Henry Heckelbeck Gets a Dragon (Henry Heckelbeck #1)

Gr 1-3--Henry Heckelbeck, younger brother of the beloved Heidi Heckelbeck, makes his series debut in this easy-to-read chapter book. Henry is excited for the first day of school. His first homework assignment, choosing three items for his "All About Me Bag," is fun and easy. But when Henry reads a spell to make toy dragons real, suddenly his first day of school becomes much more exciting than planned. This beginner chapter book has a table of contents and page numbers for the developing audience, along with large and clear type providing accessibility to the earliest of readers. Black-and-white illustrations are on almost every page, breaking up the text and providing context clues. Short chapters and a fast-moving storyline round out the perfect elements of a beginning chapter book. VERDICT A charming and relatable story with a dabble of magic and a diverse cast of characters make this early reader chapter book a solid addition to library collections.--Emily Beasley, Omaha Public Schools