School of monsters: Drake's silly sneezes by Sally Rippin. Illus. by Chris Kennett

Drake is sneezing, Drake is sick.
Can his friends help cure him, quick?

Drake is a little dragon who cannot control his sneezes. When he is put to bed with a bad cold his friends give him a hot broth but it is so hot that when he sneezes, he sets a fire truck alight. Mary has a great idea and makes him a cold concoction but when he sneezes, he covers Mary with snow. Finally when he tries a moderate brew, bubbles come out of his bum, and then Drake decides that bubbles are fun and everyone goes out to play.

This is a great early reader that has many uses. An adult can read it aloud to a young child, getting them to predict the rhyming words at the end of each sentence and try and predict what is going to happen. They could then begin to read along with an adult. The large print and humorous, brightly coloured illustrations are a boon for the beginning reader who could read  the story alone. There are instructions for the adult on how to use the book, guidelines for drawing Drake and a list of new words to learn.

This is a series that appeals to children and has a place in a home and school library.

Pat Pledger