The Dragons of Wayward Crescent: Gruffen
Grade 2–4—Lucy is a typical nine-year-old, and her mother, Liz, is a sculptor best known for her quirky ceramic dragons. Their household appears to be an average one, but when they are alone, something magical happens: their dragons come to life. They all have special abilities, and Lucy and Liz call upon their talents when they need help. Liz creates Gruffen to protect Lucy after she sees a "monster" in her bedroom. Unfortunately, he is young and inexperienced, and causes quite a commotion in the process of dealing with the mysterious entity. He is not short on heart, though, and is determined to find a solution that makes everyone happy and safe—even the "monster." Aimed at younger readers than the audience for D'Lacey's "Last Dragon Chronicles" (Scholastic), this is a cozy and safe tale with bits of humor sprinkled throughout. Line drawings add visual interest; their cartoon style also enforces the light, upbeat mood. This is not a story for readers who are looking for adventure and excitement, but it will satisfy those who want a taste of dragon lore.—Amy Holland, Hamlin Public Library, NY(c) Copyright 2010.  Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc.  No redistribution permitted.