I'm Going on a Dragon Hunt

Summer camp veterans will recognize the familiar rhythm of this old story-rhyme: ""Hello, what's this? It's tall grass. Can't walk round it. Can't leap over it. Have to charge through it . . . .'' The young hero of this tale charges, sails, climbs and slides his way to a dark cave, where he encounters a dragon. Aghast, he repeats his progress in reverse, returning safely home. (``Phew! Safe at last.'') The story loses something (namely, hand motions and sound effects) in the adaptation to print, but retains a certain charm. Firmin's winsome hero is reminiscent of Maurice Sendak's early work, and her striking use of color contributes to some unusually evocative landscapes. Ages 58. (April)