Dragon

Who says dragons aren't real? Anderson's fantastical story makes an inventive case for their existence. ``One morning, something precious dropped from the sky,'' begins the tale; it is a dragon's egg, and it lands ``in the deep, dark ocean.'' The egg hatches under water, and a young dragon soon surfaces and begins to notice the world around him--``This is a sad, empty place.'' Embarking on a quest for his mother and his own kind, the dragon attempts to identify with several different species. Only when he meets a boy ``who knows magic from his storybooks,'' does he learn in which direction to look. A work of pure enchantment, the book's poetic text may need to be read aloud to young children; but kids and grownups alike will readily respond to Anderson's evocative imagery and subtle messages about self-identity and the importance of maternal care. Anderson's gently whimsical art has soft-edged, dark-hued illustrations with the sophistication of Peter Sis, yet there is an endearing strangeness to the characters. Perhaps never has there been a more lovable dragon baby. From its captivating cover to its striking endpapers to its tender closing, this book is a total charmer. Ages 4-8. (Oct.)