About the Holiday

One of the best things about summer is the extra time for reading! Getting lost in the plot of a new book or catching up with the latest release in a beloved series is a fantastic way to enjoy an adventure without ever leaving home! Today’s featured book takes kids back to a magical realm for another exciting, transformative mission.

Thank you to Scholastic for sending me a copy of this book for review!

Charlotte the Rose Dragon (Dragon Girls #20)

Written by Maddy Mara | Illustrated by Alessandro D’Urso

During their day together, Charlotte and her auntie Bella were viewing the rose bushes in the public greenhouse at the park where she, Selina, and Layla met to skateboard most days. Charlotte loved roses for their beauty and toughness that mirrored herself. She thought wistfully of her last adventure with her friends in the Magic Forest, hoping that they would have another one soon. She didn’t have to wait long! While wandering in the greenhouse, she smelled a familiar scent and heard a familiar melody. In a moment she found herself transported to the Magic Forest once more.

Illustration copyright © 2026 by Allesandro D’Urso. Text copyright © 2026 by Maddy Mara. Published by Scholastic.

Charlotte was met by Hummi, a hummingbird, who told Charlotte that Fury Bugs had invaded the forest. Their bite made all the creatures argue about anything and everything. As Hummi led Charlotte to the glade, she saw that Selina and Layla were already waiting for her. Soon, Charlotte, Selina, and Layla were meeting with the Tree Queen, who revealed that the Fury Queen was trying to take over the forest by distracting its inhabitants with useless squabbles. The Dragon Girls have been summoned to stop them with a powerful perfume. But how? First, they must enter the Secret Dragon Garden to discover that themselves.

Once inside the garden, the Dragon Girls learn that the Fury Bugs are already there. Although they try to avoid them, they can’t help but get bitten. They find themselves snapping at each other and saying things they don’t mean. They decide they must split up to solve this quest. Through ingenuity, using their skateboarding skills, and always staying mindful of their friendship no matter what, can the Dragon Girls overcome their adversary’s obstacles and save the Magic Forest? The journey to answering to this question will leave readers spellbound as they reunite with these three enchanting heroes.

Intriguing and built on true friendship, the latest adventure of the Flower Dragons will mesmerize readers with its quick pace, relevant storyline, and clever thinking. The Dragon Girls overarching themes of tight relationships, trust in each other, and ever-present support are on especially strong display in this story as Charlotte, Selina, and Layla struggle with but overcome the effects of the Fury Bugs’ bites. Sprinkled with humor, promoting independence and self-esteem, and embracing family, Maddy Mara’s Charlotte the Rose Dragon is a smart addition to this three-book series.

Alessandro D’Urso’s splash of charcoal-colored illustrations add atmosphere and personality to the chapters.

Ages 7 – 10

Scholastic, 2026 | ISBN 979-8225024536

About the Authors

Maddy Mara is the pen name of Australian creative duo Hilary Rogers and Meredith Badger. Hilary is a writer and former publisher; Meredith is a writer and teaches English as a second language. Together they have written or created many bestselling series for kids, including Dragon Girls, Dragon Games, and Forever Fairies. Dragon Girls has over 1.5 million copies in print and is available in multiple countries and languages. They live on the lands of the Wurundjeri and Bunurong people in Melbourne, Australia. Their website is maddymara.com.