Cooper Clark and the Dragon Lady — Valerie Sherrard

Written as a simple chapter book for younger readers, this novel focuses on the tribulations of Cooper Clark, who needs a baby sitter after school every day until his parents come home from work. All is fine as long as that babysitter is Cooper's favorite, Linda. But when Linda gets a new job, Cooper's parents must find a new sitter. The only person available is old Mrs. Mulligan, who lives two streets away. Every kid in the neighborhood calls her The Dragon Lady because they know she keeps a dragon in her cellar. And Cooper is deathly afraid of dragons, even though he does not want his parents or friends to know about his terrible fear. If Cooper cannot figure out a way to get out of going to Mrs Mulligan's house what horrible things is he going to have to confront?