Ava and Maya the Fairy Dragon by Medha Bhaskar

A charming children’s book about overcoming hard moments, making new friends, and learning to trust yourself, Ava and Maya the Fairy Dragon by Medha Bhaskar is a fantastic parable of self-discovery.

When young Ava goes for a wander in the forest, her curiosity and the beauty of nature lead to her getting lost. Fortunately, she encounters a magical creature in the woods – a fairy dragon with powerful spells and an eagerness to have a new friend. After returning Maya safely to her parents, the dragon disappears, only to return that night and explain that her existence must remain hidden. With this new spell-binding secret in hand, Ava and Maya embark on a series of nighttime adventures as they deepen their unexpected bond.

Written by a creative six-year-old author, some allowance can obviously made for any story or grammatical issues, but the book is surprisingly strong and feels as if written by a much older author, with a fully realized lead character and eloquent descriptions. The story does end quite abruptly with a mention of adventures without going into more detail, so the book definitely begs for a sequel; the story mainly sets up Ava and Maya’s initial relationship together, so young readers will be asking for more. The illustrations are also vivid and eye-catching, with the fairy dragon an endearing and comforting presence.

All in all, the success of this book is two-fold – children will enjoy Ava and Maya’s tale, which is relatable even with the fantasy premise, while the author’s age can inspire any young child’s creativity. Even without knowing the age of the author, this is a remarkably clear-eyed tale that delivers critical lessons for young readers and aspiring adventurers.