Dragons and Marshmallows, the first book in the Zoey and Sassafras series, is a children’s book by Asia Citro, illustrated by Marion Lindsay. The Zoey and Sassafras series blends the fantasy genre with nonfiction scientific subjects. Each book combines a fantasy creature with a real-world explanation of scientific principles, elements of the environment, or information about the natural world. Citro was a science teacher before beginning her writing career. 

The novel was selected as a Best Book for Kids of 2017 by the New York Public Library and A Mighty Girl. It was awarded the 2018 Washington State Book for Young Readers Award. The novel explores Comparing Science to Magic, Trusting Yourself and Asking for Help, and the Importance of the Scientific Method.

This guide refers to the 2017 Innovation Press edition

Plot Summary

Zoey and her cat, Sassafras, are playing in the garden. Zoey creates what she calls a bug circus. She tells her mom, a scientist who is about to leave for an academic conference. Zoey’s mom is distracted by a photograph that is glowing purple. It is of Zoey’s mom, as a child, holding a glowing purple frog. Zoey’s mom is surprised Zoey can see the frog, named Pip.

Zoey’s mom explains that many magical animals live in the forest, but most humans can’t see them. After Zoey’s mom helped Pip recover, he asked her to help care for other magical creatures. She agreed. Pip installed a magical doorbell on the barn, so that creatures could to her come for help. Zoey’s mom ran experiments to learn about the animals and better help them.

Zoey is amazed but delighted. She asks to help any magical creatures who come while her mom is away. Her mom says yes. Zoey is nervous, but reminds herself that her mom took care of magical creatures at her age.

When the magical doorbell rings, Zoey finds a baby dragon that seems weak. Zoey remembers watching baby snakes hatch; one seemed to be the runt of the litter. She and her mom helped the little snake by feeding it a worm. Zoey decides the dragon might be a runt, but doesn’t know what baby dragons like to eat. 

To find out, she sets up an experiment, offering the baby dragon several different food options. The dragon tries cereal, but it gets stuck to his tongue. He happily eats several marshmallows. She concludes that dragons love marshmallows, and decides to call him Marshmallow. 

The next morning, Zoey finds Sassafras in the barn huddled beside Marshmallow. Marshmallow is cold because reptiles are cold-blooded and don’t produce their own body heat. Although she finds a space heater, he still stumbles and falls. Zoey realizes she needs to call her mom.

When her mom isn’t available, Zoey’s dad offers to help. He reminds her about a time when she ate too many marshmallows and got a stomach ache. While Marshmallow liked the food, it probably wasn’t healthy for him. Zoey conducts another experiment to determine whether Marshmallow is a carnivore, omnivore, or herbivore. He eats a fish and goes to sleep.

Zoey’s mom returns home. Zoey, distraught, tells her mother about her experience. Her mother reassures her and suggests that such creatures are usually tougher than they seem. They go to check on Marshmallow, and find that he has doubled in size. Zoey is happy and relieved.

A few days later, the dragon is the size of a horse. Zoey and her mom realize they need to release him into the wild even though it makes Zoey sad. As they prepare to say goodbye, a blue dragon appears. Marshmallow seems happy to see this dragon and together they fly off.

Zoey’s mom expresses pride in her daughter’s efforts, and they celebrate her success by roasting marshmallows. Zoey is excited at the possibility of helping another magical creature in the future.