The Secret Dragon

Book excerpt: The perfect tale of friendship and adventure for young explorers aged 8+, shortlisted for the 2020 Tir na n-Og Awards. 'So if you're not an animal that's alive today, and you're not an animal that's extinct either, what on earth are you?' Mari Jones is desperate to be a real scientist, even though she's only eleven. So when she discovers a tiny dragon while fossil hunting on the beach, she's sure she can find a good scientific explanation - as long as she can keep it hidden long enough to study it. Unfortunately for Mari, this is one secret that doesn't want to be kept. And as she starts to form a deeper bond with the mischievous dragon, she might have to admit that, when it comes to friendship, science might not have all the answers... 'A heart-warming story' - Guardian 'Utterly enchanting' - Cat Doyle, author of The Storm Keeper's Island 'Seamless storytelling interwoven with fascinating science . . . perfect for reading aloud!' - Piers Torday, author of The Lost Magician