Dragon on the Loose

Gr 2-6–Hailey misses her Grandpa Wong and their dim sum dates, the way he always knew how to have fun, and his encouragement to be adventurous. So when Hailey and her best friend Kyle accidentally awaken a Chinese dragon that loves gummy worms, it seems like the kind of adventure she would have shared with her grandpa. Then animal control gets wind of a strange creature on the loose, and Hailey and Kyle must help Zhu find her way back home before it is too late. 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. Hailey and Kyle are 11, but readers as young as seven will find nothing objectionable, and older developing readers will be drawn in by the fast-paced story. The depiction of a librarian in an “information ninja” t-shirt seems slightly culturally insensitive. Black-and-white illustrations complement the text, ranging in size from one-quarter to full page.