A Dragon in Class 4 ¦ Charlie, Emma and the School Dragon

Two stories about dragons who go to school, each told with a confident author's voice. June Counsel's tale is funny, humane and cleverly unfolded. When her dragon, Scales, joins a junior school classroom, she catches the feel of the children and the classroom in a rare and unpatronising way - spelling mistakes, TV programmes, nature table and all. Good contemporary-sounding children and teachers: a lovely readaloud.

We've met Margaret Greaves' dragon in her previous books (also paperbacked by Magnet). Smashing school scenes (the dragon can't spell and the teacher reads some great poetry!) and a more subtle, less rumbustious kind of fun than in Ms Counsel's book. The writing catches the mythological origins of the creature. I'll read both of these aloud to sevens to tens and encourage the listeners and readers to compare them.