Dragons in a Bag

August 6, 2018
When nine-year-old Jaxon’s mom leaves him to stay with “Ma,” the woman who raised her (presumably, his grandmother), he is startled by a mysterious, moving package on her table. Soon, Jax learns that Ma is a witch to whom his mother was once apprenticed, and that the package contains three baby dragons that must be delivered to a parallel realm, since Brooklyn lacks sufficient magic to sustain the beasts. Jax joins her, deciding he’d like to be her apprentice, but the transporter, an old guardhouse in Prospect Park, mistakenly deposits them in the Mesozoic era instead. When a dinosaur threatens them, Ma pushes Jax and her dragon-filled purse into the transformer, and Jax arrives back in Brooklyn with two essential missions: save Ma, and safeguard the dragons. Filled with entertaining characters, including the grandfather Jax has never met and a man who may just be invisible, the story entertains from start to finish. Readers will mirror Jax’s surprise at and joy in discovering the world Elliott (Bird) brings to life. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8–12. Author’s agent: Jennifer Laughran, Andrea Brown Literary.

There are so few children's fantasy books with urban African-American characters. Ron Butler's narration enhances this welcome and refreshing option for fantasy audiobook fans. When 9-year-old Jaxon is sent to spend the day with a mean old lady his mother calls Ma, he is shocked to find out she's a witch. She needs his help delivering baby dragons to a magical world, but a glitchy transporter sends Ma to the Mesozoic era, while Jaxon is returned to Brooklyn to protect the baby dragons alone. Butler hilariously conveys the bewildered amazement of Jaxon, and the raspy bark of the gruff, no-nonsense Ma. Unique voices for an assortment of Ma's eccentric friends in Brooklyn round out this entertaining listen. S.C. � AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine