• Age: 6 to 8
• Grade: 1 to 3
• Reading age: 6 to 8

When eleven-year-old Hailey and her friend Kyle make a wish on a Chinese lion statue, they accidentally bring a dragon to life.

Scared at first, the kids soon realize that Zhu the dragon means them no harm, and they show the dragon around their city. It's all fun and games until Animal Control gets wind of a wild creature on the loose. The kids have to find a way to send their new friend back home before she’s taken away.

The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.

Raised in Morinville—a small town north of Edmonton, Alberta—Marty Chan is a playwright, radio writer, television story editor, and young adult author. Marty graduated from the University of Alberta in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree (English major/drama minor). He fell into improv comedy when he joined Edmonton Theatresports, but his paralyzing stage fright resulted in ”penguin arm“ acting, forcing him to abandon performing and take up writing. His signature play, Mom, Dad, I’m Living With A White Girl, has been produced across Canada, published three times, and broadcast as a radio drama. The stage play won an Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award for Best New Work and the Adams Chinese Theatre Award at Harvard University. In October 2004, the play had a successful Off Broadway run in New York. Marty was a regular contributor to CBC Radio Edmonton from 1994 to 2000. His weekly commentary series, ”The Dim Sum Diaries,“ recounted his misadventures as the only Chinese kid in a small prairie town. These weekly commentaries were adapted into a half-hour television program (The Orange Seed Myth) which won a Gold Medal for Best Television Pilot at the Charleston World Film and Television Festival, and earned Marty a Gemini nomination for best writing in a children’s program. In 2004, Thistledown Press launched Marty’s first young adult novel, The Mystery of the Frozen Brains, which has become a hit with young readers across Canada. Resource Links magazine rated listed it as one of the Best Books of 2004 for grades 3 to 6. Marty was the first playwright in residence at the Citadel Theatre. He also served as the chair of the Edmonton Arts Council and taught playwriting at the U of A. He received an Arts Achievement Award and a Performance Award from the City of Edmonton. He also earned a Horizon Award from the university for his contributions to theatre. Currently, Marty resides in Edmonton with his wife Michelle and their two cats, Buddy and Max.

Marty Chan's profile page

Grace Chen is a Chinese Canadian artist and illustrator. A graduate of Sheridan College's Illustration program, ​Grace has a strong foundation in traditional mediums that greatly influences her current art. She is inspired by moments in her life, the world at large and the works of those around her. Grace lives in Toronto.

Grace Chen's profile page

• Nominated, Forest of Reading Silver Birch Express Award
• Long-listed, BookPal Outstanding Works of Literature (OWL) Awards - Education: Elementary School
• Commended, Top Grade: CanLit for the Classroom

“A delightful and imaginative romp through the bliss of childhood, this early chapter book packs a ton of Chinese culture, multigenerational love, friendship, and adventure into quick and easy-to-read chapters. A fun and meaningful addition to early chapter book collections everywhere, recommended for purchase.”

School Library Journal (SLJ)

“Chan’s vivid character dialogue and engaging, nicely paced storytelling take readers on a fantastical journey through streets full of history and personal meaning…[An] entertaining adventure featuring plucky kids and a magical creature.”

Booklist

“Chan’s action-packed story deftly combines humor and feeling to draw readers in. Chen’s cartoon-like illustrations help keep the sometimes sentimental text from feeling too heavy. All in all, this is a fun, quick-paced early chapter book with diverse characters. Recommended for beginning readers who enjoy dragons or friendship tales.”

Children's Literature Comprehensive Database (CLCD)

“A fast-paced, adventure-filled story that keeps readers on the edge of their seats...encourages children to problem-solve under pressure and in constantly evolving situations. Chan also promotes Chinese culture in his story and compares and contrasts it with the western culture, allowing children who celebrate more than one culture to relate. Highly Recommended.”

CM: Canadian Review of Materials