Dragons and Marshmallows: Zoey and Sassafras, Book 1
By Carrie Kingsley,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Girl solves fun mystery with science, magic, and her cat.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this book.
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What's the Story?
In DRAGONS AND MARSHMALLOWS, young Zoey discovers that she shares an amazing trait with her mom: She can see magical animals, and they ring a secret bell at her house when they need help. When her mom is on a work trip and an injured baby dragon appears, Zoey and her cat Sassafras have to figure out how to help it recover. They use science and follow the same processes over and over trying to get their new dragon friend, Marshmallow, healthy enough to survive in the wild.
Is It Any Good?
Filled with heart and brains, this start to the Zoey and Sassafrass series is a fun read with just the right mix of science and fantasy. Dragons might only exist in the fantasy realm, but author Citro uses them to show how it's possible to learn a lot about something starting only with a small bit of information and educated guesses. In Dragons and Marshmallows, Zoey delightfully blends science and magic into her otherwise normal life, which makes it easier for young readers to relate to her questions, frustrations, and feelings about saying goodbye to something she cares about.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what is would be like to have a gift like Zoey's in Dragons and Marshmallows. Do you think it's the kind of thing you could keep secret? What would happen if people found out?
If this gift were real, who in your family do you think would have it, and why?
What do you wonder about that you could find answers for using the methods Zoey did?
Book Details
- Author: Asia Citro
- Illustrator: Marion Lindsay
- Genre: For Beginning Readers
- Topics: STEM, Magic and Fantasy, Cats, Dogs, and Mice, Great Girl Role Models, Science and Nature
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: The Innovation Press
- Publication date: March 14, 2017
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 6 - 10
- Number of pages: 96
- Available on: Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: June 25, 2020
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