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Download high-resolution image Look inside

Dragons in a Bag

Part of Dragons in a Bag

Author Zetta Elliott
Illustrated by Geneva B
Look inside
Paperback
$6.99 US
RH Childrens Books | Yearling
5.13"W x 7.63"H x 0.42"D  
On sale Aug 13, 2019 | 176 Pages | 978-1-5247-7048-8
| Grades 3-7
Reading Level: Lexile 740L | Fountas & Pinnell T
Add to cart Add to list Exam Copies
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  • English Language Arts > Fiction > Animals > Dragons, Unicorns, and Mythical Creatures
  • English Language Arts > Fiction > Fantasy > Dragons, Unicorns, and Mythical Creatures
  • English Language Arts > Fiction > Fantasy > Fantasy & Magic
  • English Language Arts > Fiction > People & Places by Group > African American
  • About
  • Author
  • Excerpt
  • Guides
  • Awards
  • Praise
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 The Witch's Apprentice.
Zetta Elliott was born in Canada and moved to the United States in 1994. She is the author of over twenty-five books for young readers, including Dragons in a Bag and the award-winning picture books Bird and Melena's Jubilee. She is also a contributor to the anthology We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices. Elliott is an advocate for greater diversity and equity in publishing. A longtime resident of Brooklyn, she currently lives in Chicago. Visit zettaelliott.com or follow her on Twitter @zettaelliott and Facebook: Author Zetta Elliott.

Cherise Harris spent much of her childhood in Barbados writing stories and making art. She went on to complete her Associate Degree in Visual Arts at the Barbados Community College, her BFA in Illustration at the School of Visual Arts in NYC and her MA in Illustration: Authorial Practice at Falmouth University in the UK. She now lives in Barbados with her husband and toddler daughter. View titles by Zetta Elliott
Geneva B View titles by Geneva B

Mama strokes my cheek with her finger before pressing the doorbell. I feel tears pooling behind my eyes, but I will them not to fall. Mama has enough to worry about right now.

 

“It’s only for a little while, Jaxon. I’ll be back before you know it.”

 

I nod and look up at the peephole in the door. If I look down at my feet, the tears will fall and my nose will start to run and Mama will know I don’t want her to leave me here.

 

Mama’s biting her lip and tapping her toe nervously. She presses the doorbell again, letting it ring longer this time. We both hear someone stirring--and cursing--inside the apartment. Mama laughs nervously and says, “Ma curses like a sailor sometimes, but she’s a harmless old lady. She’s fun, too--you’ll like her, Jax.”

 

I never even knew I had a grandmother living in Brooklyn. Mama never mentioned her before. Sometimes Mama hides things from me--or that’s what I let her believe. Mama thinks I don’t know our landlord’s trying to get rid of us. She takes down the eviction notices he pins to our front door, but I still know what’s going on. Today Mama has to go to court. I want to go with her, but Mama wants to leave me here instead.

 

A heavy body shuffles toward the door. Mama and I wait patiently as at least three locks are turned. The chain stays on and lets the door open just a crack. I cringe as a raspy voice asks, “What you want?”

 

Mama smiles sweetly and places her palm against the door. She speaks slowly and politely. “It’s just us, Ma. I called this morning and told you we were coming. Remember?”

 

The woman behind the door barks at Mama, “Course I remember. You called and asked if you could leave the boy with me and I said NO!”

 

The sweet smile on Mama’s face doesn’t budge. If anything, it hardens. Mama tries to push the door open, but the chain’s still on and my mysterious grandmother doesn’t seem ready to move out of the way.

 

Mama puts her other hand on the doorframe and leans in so that the woman on the other side of the door can see and hear just how desperate she is. “It’s only for a few hours. Please, Ma. You’re all he has.”

 

I step back and wonder if that’s really true. I’m sure Vikram would let me stay at his house for a while. His parents like me and don’t mind having me around. Mrs. Patel calls me a good influence. That’s what the grown-ups who know me always say. But this mean lady won’t even open the door and give me a chance. If she doesn’t want me around, that’s fine by me.

 

But it’s not okay with Mama. She’s whispering to the woman behind the door, but her smile is gone now, and there are tears shining on her cheeks. I want to hold Mama’s hand, but instead I take another step back and hold on to the straps of my book bag. Mama’s saying one word over and over again: please.

 

I have never seen my mother beg anyone for anything. But it doesn’t work, because the door finally closes. Mama rests her forehead against it before wiping her eyes and turning to me. “Let’s go, Jax,” she says wearily.

 

I sigh with relief and take Mama’s hand. Just as we start to walk down the stairs, I hear the chain slide, and the door opens once more.

 

“One day. Give me your word, Alicia. One day.”

 

Mama says, “I promise, Ma.” Then she pulls me back over to my grandmother’s apartment. The door is open, but the lights are off and I can’t see anyone inside. Mama gives me a quick hug and pushes me through the doorway. Before I can ask her when she’ll be back, Mama rushes down the stairs and is gone.

Copyright © 2018 by Zetta Elliott. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Educator Guide for Dragons in a Bag

Classroom-based guides appropriate for schools and colleges provide pre-reading and classroom activities, discussion questions connected to the curriculum, further reading, and resources. Many guides are correlated to Common Core State Standards (CCSS).

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

Read More
  • NOMINEE | 2022
    Wisconsin Golden Archer Award
  • NOMINEE | 2022
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  • NOMINEE | 2022
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  • NOMINEE | 2022
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  • NOMINEE | 2021
    Utah Children's Book Award
  • NOMINEE | 2021
    Utah Children's Book Award
  • NOMINEE | 2021
    Utah Children's Book Award
  • NOMINEE | 2021
    Utah Children's Book Award
  • NOMINEE | 2020
    Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award
  • NOMINEE | 2020
    Florida Sunshine State Young Readers Award
  • NOMINEE | 2020
    Florida Sunshine State Young Readers Award
  • NOMINEE | 2020
    Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award
  • NOMINEE | 2020
    Massachusetts Children's Book Award
  • NOMINEE | 2020
    Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award
  • NOMINEE | 2020
    Florida Sunshine State Young Readers Award
  • NOMINEE | 2020
    Florida Sunshine State Young Readers Award
  • NOMINEE | 2020
    Massachusetts Children's Book Award
  • NOMINEE | 2020
    Massachusetts Children's Book Award
  • NOMINEE | 2020
    Massachusetts Children's Book Award
  • NOMINEE | 2020
    Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award
  • SELECTION | 2019
    Notable Children's Books
  • SELECTION | 2019
    Notable Children's Books
  • SELECTION | 2019
    Notable Children's Books
  • SELECTION | 2019
    Notable Children's Books
  • SELECTION | 2018
    Chicago Public Library's Best of the Best Books
  • SELECTION | 2018
    Chicago Public Library's Best of the Best Books
  • SELECTION | 2018
    Chicago Public Library's Best of the Best Books
  • SELECTION | 2018
    Chicago Public Library's Best of the Best Books
"What a breath of fresh air: a chapter-book fantasy with an urban setting, an array of brown-skinned magic wielders, and a lovable black protagonist readers will root for and sympathize with... Good, solid fantasy fun."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Elliott skillfully introduces themes about creating positive change, examines issues of othering and the fear of differences, and touches upon the complexities of family, gentrification, and segregation. A promising start to a new series..."—School Library Journal, starred review

About

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 The Witch's Apprentice.

Author

Zetta Elliott was born in Canada and moved to the United States in 1994. She is the author of over twenty-five books for young readers, including Dragons in a Bag and the award-winning picture books Bird and Melena's Jubilee. She is also a contributor to the anthology We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices. Elliott is an advocate for greater diversity and equity in publishing. A longtime resident of Brooklyn, she currently lives in Chicago. Visit zettaelliott.com or follow her on Twitter @zettaelliott and Facebook: Author Zetta Elliott.

Cherise Harris spent much of her childhood in Barbados writing stories and making art. She went on to complete her Associate Degree in Visual Arts at the Barbados Community College, her BFA in Illustration at the School of Visual Arts in NYC and her MA in Illustration: Authorial Practice at Falmouth University in the UK. She now lives in Barbados with her husband and toddler daughter. View titles by Zetta Elliott
Geneva B View titles by Geneva B

Excerpt

Mama strokes my cheek with her finger before pressing the doorbell. I feel tears pooling behind my eyes, but I will them not to fall. Mama has enough to worry about right now.

 

“It’s only for a little while, Jaxon. I’ll be back before you know it.”

 

I nod and look up at the peephole in the door. If I look down at my feet, the tears will fall and my nose will start to run and Mama will know I don’t want her to leave me here.

 

Mama’s biting her lip and tapping her toe nervously. She presses the doorbell again, letting it ring longer this time. We both hear someone stirring--and cursing--inside the apartment. Mama laughs nervously and says, “Ma curses like a sailor sometimes, but she’s a harmless old lady. She’s fun, too--you’ll like her, Jax.”

 

I never even knew I had a grandmother living in Brooklyn. Mama never mentioned her before. Sometimes Mama hides things from me--or that’s what I let her believe. Mama thinks I don’t know our landlord’s trying to get rid of us. She takes down the eviction notices he pins to our front door, but I still know what’s going on. Today Mama has to go to court. I want to go with her, but Mama wants to leave me here instead.

 

A heavy body shuffles toward the door. Mama and I wait patiently as at least three locks are turned. The chain stays on and lets the door open just a crack. I cringe as a raspy voice asks, “What you want?”

 

Mama smiles sweetly and places her palm against the door. She speaks slowly and politely. “It’s just us, Ma. I called this morning and told you we were coming. Remember?”

 

The woman behind the door barks at Mama, “Course I remember. You called and asked if you could leave the boy with me and I said NO!”

 

The sweet smile on Mama’s face doesn’t budge. If anything, it hardens. Mama tries to push the door open, but the chain’s still on and my mysterious grandmother doesn’t seem ready to move out of the way.

 

Mama puts her other hand on the doorframe and leans in so that the woman on the other side of the door can see and hear just how desperate she is. “It’s only for a few hours. Please, Ma. You’re all he has.”

 

I step back and wonder if that’s really true. I’m sure Vikram would let me stay at his house for a while. His parents like me and don’t mind having me around. Mrs. Patel calls me a good influence. That’s what the grown-ups who know me always say. But this mean lady won’t even open the door and give me a chance. If she doesn’t want me around, that’s fine by me.

 

But it’s not okay with Mama. She’s whispering to the woman behind the door, but her smile is gone now, and there are tears shining on her cheeks. I want to hold Mama’s hand, but instead I take another step back and hold on to the straps of my book bag. Mama’s saying one word over and over again: please.

 

I have never seen my mother beg anyone for anything. But it doesn’t work, because the door finally closes. Mama rests her forehead against it before wiping her eyes and turning to me. “Let’s go, Jax,” she says wearily.

 

I sigh with relief and take Mama’s hand. Just as we start to walk down the stairs, I hear the chain slide, and the door opens once more.

 

“One day. Give me your word, Alicia. One day.”

 

Mama says, “I promise, Ma.” Then she pulls me back over to my grandmother’s apartment. The door is open, but the lights are off and I can’t see anyone inside. Mama gives me a quick hug and pushes me through the doorway. Before I can ask her when she’ll be back, Mama rushes down the stairs and is gone.

Copyright © 2018 by Zetta Elliott. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

Guides

Educator Guide for Dragons in a Bag

Classroom-based guides appropriate for schools and colleges provide pre-reading and classroom activities, discussion questions connected to the curriculum, further reading, and resources. Many guides are correlated to Common Core State Standards (CCSS).

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

Read More

Awards

  • NOMINEE | 2022
    Wisconsin Golden Archer Award
  • NOMINEE | 2022
    Wisconsin Golden Archer Award
  • NOMINEE | 2022
    Wisconsin Golden Archer Award
  • NOMINEE | 2022
    Wisconsin Golden Archer Award
  • NOMINEE | 2021
    Utah Children's Book Award
  • NOMINEE | 2021
    Utah Children's Book Award
  • NOMINEE | 2021
    Utah Children's Book Award
  • NOMINEE | 2021
    Utah Children's Book Award
  • NOMINEE | 2020
    Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award
  • NOMINEE | 2020
    Florida Sunshine State Young Readers Award
  • NOMINEE | 2020
    Florida Sunshine State Young Readers Award
  • NOMINEE | 2020
    Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award
  • NOMINEE | 2020
    Massachusetts Children's Book Award
  • NOMINEE | 2020
    Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award
  • NOMINEE | 2020
    Florida Sunshine State Young Readers Award
  • NOMINEE | 2020
    Florida Sunshine State Young Readers Award
  • NOMINEE | 2020
    Massachusetts Children's Book Award
  • NOMINEE | 2020
    Massachusetts Children's Book Award
  • NOMINEE | 2020
    Massachusetts Children's Book Award
  • NOMINEE | 2020
    Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award
  • SELECTION | 2019
    Notable Children's Books
  • SELECTION | 2019
    Notable Children's Books
  • SELECTION | 2019
    Notable Children's Books
  • SELECTION | 2019
    Notable Children's Books
  • SELECTION | 2018
    Chicago Public Library's Best of the Best Books
  • SELECTION | 2018
    Chicago Public Library's Best of the Best Books
  • SELECTION | 2018
    Chicago Public Library's Best of the Best Books
  • SELECTION | 2018
    Chicago Public Library's Best of the Best Books

Praise

"What a breath of fresh air: a chapter-book fantasy with an urban setting, an array of brown-skinned magic wielders, and a lovable black protagonist readers will root for and sympathize with... Good, solid fantasy fun."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Elliott skillfully introduces themes about creating positive change, examines issues of othering and the fear of differences, and touches upon the complexities of family, gentrification, and segregation. A promising start to a new series..."—School Library Journal, starred review

Additional formats

  • Dragons in a Bag
    Dragons in a Bag
    Zetta Elliott, Geneva B
    $16.99 US
    Hardcover
    Oct 23, 2018
  • Dragons in a Bag
    Dragons in a Bag
    Zetta Elliott, Geneva B
    $16.99 US
    Hardcover
    Oct 23, 2018

Other books in this series

  • The Enchanted Bridge
    The Enchanted Bridge
    Zetta Elliott, Cherise Harris
    $16.99 US
    Hardcover
    Jan 17, 2023
  • The Witch's Apprentice
    The Witch's Apprentice
    Zetta Elliott, Cherise Harris
    $16.99 US
    Hardcover
    Jan 18, 2022
  • The Dragon Thief
    The Dragon Thief
    Zetta Elliott, Geneva B
    $6.99 US
    Paperback
    Jan 12, 2021
  • The Enchanted Bridge
    The Enchanted Bridge
    Zetta Elliott, Cherise Harris
    $16.99 US
    Hardcover
    Jan 17, 2023
  • The Witch's Apprentice
    The Witch's Apprentice
    Zetta Elliott, Cherise Harris
    $16.99 US
    Hardcover
    Jan 18, 2022
  • The Dragon Thief
    The Dragon Thief
    Zetta Elliott, Geneva B
    $6.99 US
    Paperback
    Jan 12, 2021
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