Cooper Clark and the Dragon Lady

Everything is going well in Cooper’s life until his babysitter Linda gets a new job and has to quit babysitting. Cooper loves Linda; she plays games with him and is a good sport when she loses; she gives him snacks from the approved list, like yogurt and fruit, but every now and then she gives him a snack from the unapproved list, like ice cream. There’s a conspiratorial tone to this activity, but Linda always confesses to Cooper’s health-conscious mother. She’s fun, caring and conscientious, and Cooper enjoys going to her house after school.

But when Linda suddenly quits, Cooper’s parents struggle to find someone to care for him, someone that is until Mrs. Mulligan becomes available. This is a problem for Cooper. He’s convinced she has a dragon in her basement, and he does not like dragons. While his friends think dragons are fun and often fight over the stuffed dragon in the toy bin at school, Cooper never has to worry about going in the quiet chair over the dragon. He makes a point of staying away from dragon books, movies or toys. The problem is that Cooper’s fear of dragons is a secret that he shares with no one but his cat, Howard. So, when Cooper remembers the rumors that Mrs. Mulligan has a dragon living in her basement, he makes every attempt to avoid going to her house after school. First, he tries to convince his parents that Mrs. Mulligan is too old, and then he feigns illness, but his parents are wise to these ploys. Ultimately, Cooper hides from Mrs. Mulligan and visits Linda at her new job. There, he realizes he has little control over the situation and eventually has to face his fears. It turns out that’s easy to do when playing with a small grumpy lizard who happens to be a bearded dragon.

This character-based chapter book is a wonderful yet simple read for a beginner reader. Through the use of accessible language consisting of few multi-syllabic words and clear descriptions, large font and short sentences, the author tells a relatable story while also providing the tools for young readers to embark upon reading their first chapter book. Although there are several paragraphs on each page, the sentences are short, and the punctuation and language are simple enough for a beginner reader to decode.

Simple black and while illustrations can be found within each chapter supporting the story of a young boy overcoming his fear of dragons. Each sketch within Cooper Clark and the Dragon Lady depicts Cooper with his friends, his cat, his babysitters, and, like the narrative, these illustrations convey a first-person account of Cooper’s last day with Linda and first day with Mrs. Mulligan. Young readers will enjoy reading this chapter book as the anticipation builds to the moment when Cooper must finally face a dragon.