The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon

From Newbery Honor author Grace Lin, this gorgeously illustrated chapter book blends Chinese folklore with a heartwarming adventure. It follows Jin, a young Stone Lion guardian, whose playful soccer kick sends a vital Sacred Sphere into the human realm. Stranded outside his magical home, Jin must overcome his initial reluctance and collaborate with a girl who hears mysterious voices and a self-proclaimed dragon worm. The story explores themes of responsibility, teamwork, and finding one's true purpose, all while delivering an engaging quest. Perfect for readers aged 4-11, it offers a rich narrative that can be enjoyed as a read-aloud or for independent reading, much like Lin's beloved "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon."

From award-winning and bestselling author of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Grace Lin comes a gorgeously illustrated story about a lion cub and a girl who must open a portal for the spirits, based on Chinese folklore. Jin is a Stone Lion--one of the guardians of the Old City Gate who is charged to watch over humans and protect the Sacred Sphere. But to Jin, those boring duties feel like a waste of time. What isn't a waste of time? Perfecting his zuqiu kick, scoring a Golden Goal, and becoming the most legendary player of all the spirit world. But when Jin's perfect kick accidentally knocks the Sacred Sphere out through the gate, he has no choice but to run after it, tumbling out of the realm he calls home and into the human world as the gate closes behind him. Stuck outside the gate, Jin must find help from unlikely allies, including a girl who can hear a mysterious voice and a worm who claims he is a dragon. Together, they must find the sphere and return it to the world beyond the gate...or risk losing everything. Award-winning and bestselling author Grace Lin returns with another gorgeously illustrated adventure story about duty, love, and balance--expertly written in the vein of the Newbery Honor winner and modern classic Where the Mountain Meets the Moon.