Each of these books contains five chapters about a blue dragon, illustrated with brightly colored, cartoonlike watercolors. The first is about a friendship with an apple, and the second chronicles a bad day. Both encourage the reader to laugh at Dragon's stupidity, which is more pathetic than funny.

About this witty tale of friendship, PW noted that Pilkey has created a positively precious prehistoric prototype'' and praised theexcellent vocabulary choices and crafty characterizations.'' Ages 6-8. (Sept.)

Gr 1-2-- An endearing blue dragon is the star of this series for beginning readers. In Dragon Gets By , groggy Dragon has a mixed-up day. He reads an egg, fries his morning paper, and sweeps his dirt floor until it becomes a basement. Finally, exhausted, he goes to sleep, but only after watering his bed and curling up on his plants. In A Friend for Dragon , the lonely fellow, encouraged by an unseen mischievous snake, adopts an apple for a friend. Once the snake is gone, the apple's conversation is limited, but Dragon finds many good qualities in his new pal--it is a good listener and it is always willing to share. Unfortunately, the apple is left unattended and is devoured by a hungry walrus. A heartbroken Dragon buries his friend but his loneliness is short-lived. An apple falls on his head and Dragon looks up to see a treeful of round, red friends. The gentle humor of these stories is accentuated by Pilkey's simple but engaging cartoons. Swirls and dots bejewel the skies, giving the pictures a colorful, childlike appeal. Dragon's good-natured naivete should win him many new friends. --Lori A. Janick, Parkwood Elementary School, Pasadena, TX