Whether at Eddie's birthday party, on an island, or even in London, Uncle Morton's pet dragons, Ziggy and Arthur, wreak havoc for dragonsitter Eddie. Somehow everything always works out, though Uncle Morton avoids helping at all costs. Told in email exchanges and plentiful black-and-white illustrations, Eddie's humorous adventures make for engaging light fantasy.

Gr 2-4 Edward Smith-Pickle, "Eddie," finds himself in a pickle as he is taking care of his uncle's dragon while he is away. Unfortunately, his uncle didn't leave any instructions, and the dragon isn't exactly on his best behavior as he devours endless amounts of food, tears up the house, terrorizes the neighborhood pets, and sets the curtains and the mailman on fire. Eddie emails his uncle asking for help but doesn't get any replies. His mom is at her wit's end, and Eddie wonders what to do next. Finally, he gets some advice from his uncle, which turns things around. Told entirely through emails, this story provides plenty of funny moments, as Eddie manages to sound both upbeat and worried at the same time. This is the first of a planned four-book series, and its humorous tone and illustrations will appeal to young readers. VERDICT A solid purchase for collections in need of short chapter books. Laura Fields Eason, Parker Bennett Curry Elementary School, Bowling Green, KY