When nine-year-old Jaxon’s mom, desperate for a babysitter while she goes to court to fight an eviction notice, leaves him with an eccentric woman she calls “Ma,” Jaxon assumes it’s his grandmother, although he never met her. Ma is snappish and stern and clearly reluctant to watch him. Jaxon would much rather stay with his best friend, Vik. But there’s something mysterious going on in Ma’s apartment, too: Jaxon is certain he’s seen a package from Madagascar move all by itself. When he learns that there are three tiny dragons in the package and Ma wants his help returning them to their natural environment, he readily agrees, even though it means traveling through time and to parallel worlds—something at which Ma is clearly experienced. This engaging fast-paced fantasy features a diverse cast of well-rounded characters of color, including its African American protagonist. Unpredictable Ma, the mysterious homeless man Ambrose, and Jaxon’s own grandfather all serve as surprising conduits between the earthly world and the magical one, while Vik and Vik’s little sister, Kavita, prove to be unflappable friends in the winning first volume of this series. (Ages 7–10)

The dragon's out of the bag in this diverse, young urban fantasy from an award-winning author!

When Jaxon is sent to spend the day with a mean old lady his mother calls Ma, he finds out she's not his grandmother--but she is a witch! She needs his help delivering baby dragons to a magical world where they'll be safe. There are two rules when it comes to the dragons: don't let them out of the bag, and don't feed them anything sweet. Before he knows it, Jax and his friends Vikram and Kavita have broken both rules! Will Jax get the baby dragons delivered safe and sound? Or will they be lost in Brooklyn forever?

AN ALA-ALSC NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK
AN NPR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
A CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
A KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

The Dragons in a Bag series continues! Don't miss The Dragon Thief, and coming in Spring 2022, The Witch's Apprentice.