I second this thought. The composition of the dragon was the first thing that struck me as a bit weak. The coloration isn't all that complex or contrasty, which does suggest "younger audience", it's not bad, it's just simple. I have no problems with the original text design, though I think it does need the subtitle, and if the dragon orientation isn't tweaked, DEFINITELY needs the subtitle there to pull it together.I do have a graphic design degree though it is quite rusty after all these years but here is my two cents - I think If the dragon were larger so that it was cut off by the edge and the title was inside the wings a bit it would look better. The dragon's tail and the wave in the type design would reflect each other. You'd see more of the dragon's cool face. There would be less of a cloudy hole in the middle of the composition.
It's a nice enough cover, though. I kind of feel like the attempts are a typical "not a graphic designer" who really wants to have some input but doesn't know enough about typography to know what is actually wrong. Instead of the text being a different color on top to tie it together, a better choice would be a deepening gradient overlay in the sky, so that the sky itself creates the slight framing that draws the eye in. Or a vignette around the entire thing. Right now the coloration is fairly flat blue throughout, though the clouds look nice it doesn't keep the eye inside. I get what is bugging you, but I personally think as a professional the current text looks great and it's not the text that's the problem.