Itas not easy for Danny Dragonbreath to be the sole mythical creature in a school for reptiles and amphibiansaespecially because he canat breathe fire like other dragons (as the school bully loves to remind him). But having a unique family comes in handy sometimes, like when his sea-serpent cousin takes Danny and his best iguana friend on a mindboggling underwater tour, complete with vomiting sea cucumbers and giant squid. It sure beats reading the encyclopedia to research his ocean report . . .

Using a hybrid of comic-book panels and text, Ursula Vernon introduces an irresistible set of characters with a penchant for getting themselves into sticky situations. Itas perfect for both the classroom and the Wimpy Kid set.

"Vernon's (Nurk: The Strange, Surprising Adventures of a Somewhat Brave Shrew) fiction/graphic novel hybrid stars an audacious young dragon who can't get the knack of breathing fire. After Danny Dragonbreath gets an F on his science paper about the ocean-written at the last-minute on the school bus and describing 'the rare and elusive snorkelbat'-his teacher tells him to rewrite it. To research the topic, Danny and his pal Wendell, a timid iguana, head for the Sargasso Sea. Guided by Danny's sea serpent cousin, Edward, the two encounter creatures like an octopus that can become polka-dotted or striped, 'mermen' guarding Atlantis and a vampire squid that emits 'a cloud of glowing snot.' (They also learn about the bends, which Edward equates to 'shaking a can of soda, only inside your body.') Illustrated with comic book-style art with a lime-green wash, the story gets some spark from wry asides presented in speech balloons ('Why couldn't you have gone to the library instead?' wails Wendell as a giant squid approaches). But scattered amusing snippets don't quite keep the tale afloat. Ages 8-12." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Danny Dragonbreath is the sole mythical creature in a school for reptiles and amphibians. He's a dragon with no fire, but a lot of guts. Using a hybrid of comic-book panels and text, Vernon introduces an irresistible set of characters with a penchant for getting themselves into sticky situations.

Danny Dragonbreath knows girls are trouble, but the new foreign exchange student, Suki the Salamander, is beyond trouble. Not only has she reduced his best friend, Wendell, to a blithering lovesick tadpole, but she's also the object of an elaborate ninja frog kidnapping plot.