Friend for Dragon

In the first title of this new series, A Friend for Dragon, a snake plays a joke on gentle Dragon that is carried too far. Tricked into believing that an apple is his new friend, Dragon is brokenhearted when a hungry walrus eats it. He buries the apple core, and eventually the seeds sprout and grow into a tree that bears a new apple. Dragon Gets By is a lighter, comical tale in which the beguiling blue creature wakes up groggy and does everything wrong. ``First he read an egg and fried the morning newspaper.'' He sweeps his dirt floor so diligently that he accidentally digs himself a basement, then he has a zany adventure at the grocery store. Children will laugh at Dragon's antics while enjoying Pilkey's ( 'Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving ) bright, inviting illustrations. Each episode constitutes a chapter; beginning readers will take pride in being able to read a chapter book independently. With his excellent vocabulary choices and crafty characterizations--small squiggles carry large meanings--Pilkey has created a positively precious prehistoric prototype. Ages 6-8. (Mar.)