Zetta ElliottDragons in a Bag

I bought this book to read with small groups,3rd and 4th grade, and the kids loved it!! Easy to follow and understand. Fun to do predictions with. I really enjoyed the relationships the characters had with each other. We can't wait to read the set now!

As a Canadian elementary teacher, I always strive to use Canadian authors within my classroom. This isn't always easy to accomplish. However, not only is this author from Ajax, Ontario, but she has written a story that engages boys and uses culturally diverse main characters - something most young children are not used to seeing. I am reading it to my Grade 2 class right now and they are LOVING it! I have already bought the second book, The Dragon Thief, and they are eagerly awaiting the moment I finish Dragons in a Bag so that we can start the next book.

Such a wonderful story, with beautiful illustrations, great characters, dragons, and magic. What more could you want? I’m off to buy the next book now.

This book has been selected as part of a Global Read Aloud. First few chapters develop the characters and explore themes of diversity, family and understanding.

Jaxon is trying to be brave and helpful for his mother, who’s having a really bad day. Their landlord is trying to evict them, she has to be in court, and an old lady that Jaxon’s never met, who is supposedly his grandma, makes his momma beg. It’s not a great beginning, but Ma finally lets Jaxon in. It’s not quite the visit Jax was expecting: Ma is NOT his grandmother, a mysterious box is moving itself around, and the squirrel knocking on the window would like to have a word.Actually the squirrel would like Jax to feed whatever is in the box. Ma is a witch, dragon babies imprint on whoever feeds them, and sugar is not a good idea for dragon food. When Ma, impressed by Jax’s knowledge, love of books, and his desire to learn, recruits him to help her take the dragons to the world where they’ll be safe, things get complicated. He’s about to meet family he never knew he had, dragons his friend’s little sister should not have let out of the box, and some very hungry predators.Dragons in a Bag is a fun adventure story with a lot of good life lessons about the meaning of family, and the value friendship, bravery, perseverance, and more. There are also conversations starters for conservationism, environmentalism, imagination, open-mindedness, and forgiveness.Quite a fun romp. Highly recommended for children who love adventure, mysteries, magic, and mayhem. I hope this is a start to a series!I received this book as a digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) from the publisher through NetGalley. My