A Dragon Christmas: Things to Make and Do

Those blue rascals last seen in A Dragon Halloween Party return for another round of energetic holiday activities. Once again, the pages are packed with information, but this time the instructions for crafts seem too sketchy for readers at the younger end of the age range. For example, for a banner, ``Draw letters on construction-paper. Cut out letters. Tape string to back of letters. Hang banner with tape or tacks.'' No pattern is offered. Perhaps to pick on the specifics is too much humbug for this gang, for they score holiday points simply for mustering up enthusiasm with their ever-expressive eyebrows and endless innovations with tissue paper and glue. Ma Dragon does show up in some scenes, but a textual back-up would have been better: an admonishment to include adults in some of the cooking or cutting scenes would have made sure that all the fun was carried out with a safety net. Ages 5-8. (Oct.)