Hocus and Pocus and the Dragon Next Door

Contributions by Charlene Chua
Audiobook Download
On sale Mar 04, 2025 | 20 Minutes | 9798217070756
Age 5-8 years | Grades K-3
Magical puppies Hocus and Pocus have a new neighbor: Bye-Bye the dragon! Hocus is delighted, but Pocus is nervous about making friends—and about fire breath. A funny and affirming adventure.

On a walk around the neighborhood delivering potions with their magical family, puppies Hocus and Pocus discover that the wizard next door, Jade, has a new pet—a dragon named Bye-Bye. Hocus is excited! She loves making new friends and thinks Bye-Bye’s wings and fire breath are cool. But Pocus is afraid. He already has five friends, which feels like a lot. Plus Bye-Bye might eat them! Right? When Hocus bounds into Bye-Bye’s yard wanting to play, the dragon shies away, then chases her off. Could it be that Bye-Bye isn’t scary—she’s scared? How can the puppies help? Maybe if Hocus uses a potion to turn into a dragon temporarily, or if Pocus learns some friendly phrases in dragon language, it might help Bye-Bye open up. And it just might help Pocus feel braver, too. This charming series continues with another fun-filled and enchanted romp in a world where everyone can be their unique selves.
A. R. Capetta is an acclaimed, bestselling author of novels centering magic, mystery, and queerness. Their Italian fantasy series begins with The Brilliant Death and moves to new heights in The Storm of Life. Their latest work is Rebel Robin, a Stranger Things prequel. Once & Future, their co-authored series with Cory McCarthy, was a finalist for the New England Book Award. Other YA titles include Echo After Echo, a Broadway story of love and murder, and The Lost Coast, a witchy mystery. A.R.’s books have been chosen for the ALA Rainbow List, Junior Library Guild Selections, Kirkus Reviews Best Books of the Year, Locus Reading List, and Booklist’s Top 10 SF/Fantasy and Horror for Youth.
 
A.R. teaches in the MFA program for Writing for Children and Young Adults at VCFA and lives in Vermont with their spouse, Cory McCarthy. View titles by A. R. Capetta

About

Magical puppies Hocus and Pocus have a new neighbor: Bye-Bye the dragon! Hocus is delighted, but Pocus is nervous about making friends—and about fire breath. A funny and affirming adventure.

On a walk around the neighborhood delivering potions with their magical family, puppies Hocus and Pocus discover that the wizard next door, Jade, has a new pet—a dragon named Bye-Bye. Hocus is excited! She loves making new friends and thinks Bye-Bye’s wings and fire breath are cool. But Pocus is afraid. He already has five friends, which feels like a lot. Plus Bye-Bye might eat them! Right? When Hocus bounds into Bye-Bye’s yard wanting to play, the dragon shies away, then chases her off. Could it be that Bye-Bye isn’t scary—she’s scared? How can the puppies help? Maybe if Hocus uses a potion to turn into a dragon temporarily, or if Pocus learns some friendly phrases in dragon language, it might help Bye-Bye open up. And it just might help Pocus feel braver, too. This charming series continues with another fun-filled and enchanted romp in a world where everyone can be their unique selves.

Author

A. R. Capetta is an acclaimed, bestselling author of novels centering magic, mystery, and queerness. Their Italian fantasy series begins with The Brilliant Death and moves to new heights in The Storm of Life. Their latest work is Rebel Robin, a Stranger Things prequel. Once & Future, their co-authored series with Cory McCarthy, was a finalist for the New England Book Award. Other YA titles include Echo After Echo, a Broadway story of love and murder, and The Lost Coast, a witchy mystery. A.R.’s books have been chosen for the ALA Rainbow List, Junior Library Guild Selections, Kirkus Reviews Best Books of the Year, Locus Reading List, and Booklist’s Top 10 SF/Fantasy and Horror for Youth.
 
A.R. teaches in the MFA program for Writing for Children and Young Adults at VCFA and lives in Vermont with their spouse, Cory McCarthy. View titles by A. R. Capetta