"Brundibar" and "There's a Dragon Downstairs"

Both books seek to solve a problem.

Brundibar
4 stars
Author (Reteller): Tony Kushner
Illustrator: Maurice Sendak

Aninku and Pepicek wake to find their mother very ill. The doctor says she must have milk. There is milk for sale in the village, but the children have no money.
To earn the money, the children want to sing, but the local bully organ grinder forbids them. They and the townspeople must face down the bully.
This tale brings back World War II. The tale has a happy ending. This seems unrealistic until you read the last page from Brundibar about how defeating one bully only means another will come to take his place.

There's a Dragon Downstairs
4 stars
Author: Hilary McKay
Illustrator: Amanda Harvey

Every night Sophie goes to bed and hears the cat flap. Something comes into the kitchen, into the living room. something that seems to get bigger in the dark.
Is it a dragon?
Sophie wants to see the dragon. She tries several ways to sneak downstairs. Each ends in failure until one night. And on that night Sophie sees the dragon.