Maxie Wiz and Her Dragon (Maxie Wiz: Step Into Reading Level 1)

PreS-Gr 1--Maxie the wizard learns that young dragons can be a handful. Little Maxie, who has brown skin, is excited to watch her dragon hatch and declares her new companion a "perfect match!" Swimming in the swamp all day with the dragon is fun, but come suppertime, Maxie finds her charge is cranky and would rather have cookies than a healthy salad. The little wizard casts a spell to conjure up cupcakes that the dragon devours. It's too big to fit inside the castle or the bed, so Maxie uses her magic to accommodate her fast-growing friend. Just like most toddlers, Dragon won't go to sleep--time to conjure up a teddy bear or two. Meadows's tale offers insight into the joys and challenges of caregiving that young readers will delight in. Short sentences on each page and large clear typeface support the newest readers. Rhyming text aids word recognition, and more sophisticated phrases such as "hocus-pocus" are repeated as the little wizard practices her spells. Cloud's darling illustrations employ saturated hues and strike the right magical note, with a glittery witch's hat and shimmery stars. VERDICT A sweet bedtime story of friendship and magic for emerging readers.--Sarah Webb