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The Magic Paintbrush by Kat Zhang and Eric Darnell
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The Magic Paintbrush

By Kat Zhang and Eric Darnell
Illustrated by Phoebe Zhong

By Kat Zhang and Eric Darnell
Illustrated by Phoebe Zhong

By Kat Zhang and Eric Darnell
Illustrated by Phoebe Zhong

By Kat Zhang and Eric Darnell
Illustrated by Phoebe Zhong

By Kat Zhang and Eric Darnell
Illustrated by Phoebe Zhong

By Kat Zhang and Eric Darnell
Illustrated by Phoebe Zhong

By Kat Zhang and Eric Darnell
Illustrated by Phoebe Zhong

By Kat Zhang and Eric Darnell
Illustrated by Phoebe Zhong

By Kat Zhang and Eric Darnell
Read by Sunny Lu

By Kat Zhang and Eric Darnell
Read by Sunny Lu

Best Seller

Part of The Magic Paintbrush

Part of The Magic Paintbrush

Part of The Magic Paintbrush

Part of The Magic Paintbrush

Part of The Magic Paintbrush

Paperback $8.99

Jul 01, 2025 | ISBN 9780593179963 | Middle Grade (8-12)

Hardcover $17.99

May 21, 2024 | ISBN 9780593179932 | Middle Grade (8-12)

Hardcover $20.99

May 21, 2024 | ISBN 9780593179949 | Middle Grade (8-12)

Ebook $10.99

May 21, 2024 | ISBN 9780593179956 | Middle Grade (8-12)

Audiobook Download $15.00

May 21, 2024 | 261 Minutes | Middle Grade (8-12)

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    The Magic Paintbrush by Kat Zhang and Eric Darnell
    Paperback $8.99
    Jul 01, 2025 | ISBN 9780593179963

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    • $8.99

      Jul 01, 2025 | ISBN 9780593179963 | Middle Grade (8-12)

      Preorder from:

    • $17.99

      May 21, 2024 | ISBN 9780593179932 | Middle Grade (8-12)

      Buy from Other Retailers:

    • $20.99

      May 21, 2024 | ISBN 9780593179949 | Middle Grade (8-12)

      Buy from Other Retailers:

    • May 21, 2024 | ISBN 9780593179956 | Middle Grade (8-12)

      Buy from Other Retailers:

    • May 21, 2024 | ISBN 9780593747483 | Middle Grade (8-12)

      261 Minutes

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    Buy the Audiobook Download:

    About The Magic Paintbrush

    In this highly illustrated series launch, Amy, an Asian American girl picks up an ancient paintbrush and unwittingly unleashes the power to make her art real and sometimes dangerous. Perfect for fantasy readers who love Dragons in a Bag and the Dragon Pearl series.
    “Gorgeous and gripping, The Magic Paintbrush swoops readers off on rip-roaring fantasy adventure that unfurls like a magnificent scroll…Brimming with imagination and heart…”  Soman Chainani, author of THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL series

    Amy has always loved art, but lately her drawings have been less than impressive. There’s no passion, no personality, no…magic. Until Amy visits her Lao Lao, her grandmother, and finds an ancient paintbrush that brings anything Amy creates to life!

    Now her creation Luna has taken over her bedroom and is running through the streets of Flushing, Queens. What awaits: an international adventure filled with an ancient Chinese legend, a greedy adversary and ghastly beasts!

    Award-winning author Kat Zhang teams up with Eric Darnell, the writer and director of the Madagascar series and the Chief Creative Officer of Baobab Studios, to create a captivating highly-illustrated middle grade series debut about finding your own path, the power of imagination, and the strength of family.

    About The Magic Paintbrush

    In this highly illustrated series launch, Amy, an Asian American girl picks up an ancient paintbrush and unwittingly unleashes the power to make her art real and sometimes dangerous. Perfect for fantasy readers who love Dragons in a Bag and the Dragon Pearl series.
    “Gorgeous and gripping, The Magic Paintbrush swoops readers off on rip-roaring fantasy adventure that unfurls like a magnificent scroll…Brimming with imagination and heart…”  Soman Chainani, author of THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL series

    Amy has always loved art, but lately her drawings have been less than impressive. There’s no passion, no personality, no…magic. Until Amy visits her Lao Lao, her grandmother, and finds an ancient paintbrush that brings anything Amy creates to life!

    Now her creation Luna has taken over her bedroom and is running through the streets of Flushing, Queens. What awaits: an international adventure filled with an ancient Chinese legend, a greedy adversary and ghastly beasts!

    Award-winning author Kat Zhang teams up with Eric Darnell, the writer and director of the Madagascar series and the Chief Creative Officer of Baobab Studios, to create a captivating highly-illustrated middle grade series debut about finding your own path, the power of imagination, and the strength of family.

    About The Magic Paintbrush

    In this highly illustrated series launch, Amy, an Asian American girl picks up an ancient paintbrush and unwittingly unleashes the power to make her art real and sometimes dangerous. Perfect for fantasy readers who love Dragons in a Bag and the Dragon Pearl series.
    “Gorgeous and gripping, The Magic Paintbrush swoops readers off on rip-roaring fantasy adventure that unfurls like a magnificent scroll…Brimming with imagination and heart…”  Soman Chainani, author of THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL series

    Amy has always loved art, but lately her drawings have been less than impressive. There’s no passion, no personality, no…magic. Until Amy visits her Lao Lao, her grandmother, and finds an ancient paintbrush that brings anything Amy creates to life!

    Now her creation Luna has taken over her bedroom and is running through the streets of Flushing, Queens. What awaits: an international adventure filled with an ancient Chinese legend, a greedy adversary and ghastly beasts!

    Award-winning author Kat Zhang teams up with Eric Darnell, the writer and director of the Madagascar series and the Chief Creative Officer of Baobab Studios, to create a captivating highly-illustrated middle grade series debut about finding your own path, the power of imagination, and the strength of family.

    About The Magic Paintbrush

    In this highly illustrated series launch, Amy, an Asian American girl picks up an ancient paintbrush and unwittingly unleashes the power to make her art real and sometimes dangerous. Perfect for fantasy readers who love Dragons in a Bag and the Dragon Pearl series.
    “Gorgeous and gripping, The Magic Paintbrush swoops readers off on rip-roaring fantasy adventure that unfurls like a magnificent scroll…Brimming with imagination and heart…”  Soman Chainani, author of THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL series

    Amy has always loved art, but lately her drawings have been less than impressive. There’s no passion, no personality, no…magic. Until Amy visits her Lao Lao, her grandmother, and finds an ancient paintbrush that brings anything Amy creates to life!

    Now her creation Luna has taken over her bedroom and is running through the streets of Flushing, Queens. What awaits: an international adventure filled with an ancient Chinese legend, a greedy adversary and ghastly beasts!

    Award-winning author Kat Zhang teams up with Eric Darnell, the writer and director of the Madagascar series and the Chief Creative Officer of Baobab Studios, to create a captivating highly-illustrated middle grade series debut about finding your own path, the power of imagination, and the strength of family.

    About The Magic Paintbrush

    In this series launch, Amy, a Chinese American girl picks up an ancient paintbrush and unwittingly unleashes the power to make her art real—and sometimes dangerous. Perfect for fantasy readers who love Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor and Dragon Pearl series.

    “Gorgeous and gripping, The Magic Paintbrush swoops readers off on rip-roaring fantasy adventure that unfurls like a magnificent scroll…Brimming with imagination and heart…”  Soman Chainani, author of THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL series

    Amy has always loved art, but lately her drawings have been less than impressive. There’s no passion, no personality, no…magic. Until Amy visits her Lao Lao, her grandmother, and finds an ancient paintbrush that brings anything Amy creates to life!

    Now her creation Luna has taken over her bedroom and is running through the streets of Flushing, Queens. What awaits: an international adventure filled with an ancient Chinese legend, a greedy adversary and ghastly beasts!

    Award-winning author Kat Zhang teams up with Eric Darnell, the writer and director of the Madagascar series and the Chief Creative Officer of Baobab Studios, to create a captivating middle grade series debut about finding your own path, the power of imagination, and the strength of family.

    Listen to a sample from The Magic Paintbrush

    About Kat Zhang

    Kat Zhang loves traveling to places both real and fictional–the former have better souvenirs, but the latter allow for dragons, so… More about Kat Zhang

    About Eric Darnell

    Eric Darnell is Chief Creative Officer and Co-Founder of Baobab Studios, the world’s leading independent interactive animation studio. Under Eric’s… More about Eric Darnell

    About Kat Zhang

    Kat Zhang loves traveling to places both real and fictional–the former have better souvenirs, but the latter allow for dragons, so… More about Kat Zhang

    About Eric Darnell

    Eric Darnell is Chief Creative Officer and Co-Founder of Baobab Studios, the world’s leading independent interactive animation studio. Under Eric’s… More about Eric Darnell

    About Kat Zhang

    Kat Zhang loves traveling to places both real and fictional–the former have better souvenirs, but the latter allow for dragons, so… More about Kat Zhang

    About Eric Darnell

    Eric Darnell is Chief Creative Officer and Co-Founder of Baobab Studios, the world’s leading independent interactive animation studio. Under Eric’s… More about Eric Darnell

    About Kat Zhang

    Kat Zhang loves traveling to places both real and fictional–the former have better souvenirs, but the latter allow for dragons, so… More about Kat Zhang

    About Eric Darnell

    Eric Darnell is Chief Creative Officer and Co-Founder of Baobab Studios, the world’s leading independent interactive animation studio. Under Eric’s… More about Eric Darnell

    About Kat Zhang

    Kat Zhang loves traveling to places both real and fictional–the former have better souvenirs, but the latter allow for dragons, so… More about Kat Zhang

    About Eric Darnell

    Eric Darnell is Chief Creative Officer and Co-Founder of Baobab Studios, the world’s leading independent interactive animation studio. Under Eric’s… More about Eric Darnell

    Product Details

    Category: Children’s Middle Grade Action & Adventure

    Paperback | $8.99
    Published by Yearling
    Jul 01, 2025 | 256 Pages | 5-3/16 x 7-5/8 | Middle Grade (8-12) | ISBN 9780593179963

    Category: Children’s Middle Grade Action & Adventure

    Hardcover | $17.99
    Published by Crown Books for Young Readers
    May 21, 2024 | 256 Pages | 5-1/2 x 8-1/4 | Middle Grade (8-12) | ISBN 9780593179932

    Category: Children’s Middle Grade Action & Adventure

    Hardcover | $20.99
    Published by Crown Books for Young Readers
    May 21, 2024 | 256 Pages | 5-1/2 x 8-1/4 | Middle Grade (8-12) | ISBN 9780593179949

    Category: Children’s Middle Grade Action & Adventure

    Ebook | $10.99
    Published by Crown Books for Young Readers
    May 21, 2024 | 256 Pages | Middle Grade (8-12) | ISBN 9780593179956

    Category: Children’s Middle Grade Action & Adventure | Audiobooks

    Audiobook Download | $15.00
    Published by Listening Library
    May 21, 2024 | 261 Minutes | Middle Grade (8-12) | ISBN 9780593747483

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    Praise

    “Inventive, playful, and bursting with action…this wildly fun and deeply inspiring book crosses oceans and reaches across generations, in order to touch our hearts.” —David Henry Hwang, Tony Award Winner and 3-time Pulitzer Prize Finalist (M. Butterfly)

    “Gorgeous and gripping! Brimming with imagination and heart, The Magic Paintbrush shines promisingly as a new fantasy franchise in the making.” —Soman Chainani, author of The School for Good and Evil series

    “Enormously fun! Amy, Luna, and company will make you believe in the power of art!” —Gene Luen Yang, author of American Born Chinese

    “A mythical, multi-generational thrill ride for the ages—and a love letter to the universal power of Art and Imagination.” —Mark Siegel, author of The 5 Worlds series

    “An unforgettable fantasy adventure filled with humor, amazing illustrations, and the importance of never losing your creative spark.” —Ellen Oh, author of Finding Junie Kim

    “An earnest, heart-warming and captivating adventure, The Magic Paintbrush is a charming romp of a tale. Sure to touch anyone with a creative soul.” —Jo Rioux, author of The Cat’s Cradle series

    “[A] high-stakes adventure in this stimulating tale filled with Chinese folklore….this vibrant story by Zhang and debut author Darnell details a thrilling escapade via swift storytelling and moments of humor, warmth, and growth.” —Publishers Weekly

    “An exciting tale of friendship, family, and embracing the magic of our imagination.” —Kirkus Reviews

    “Readers will become invested in Amy’s enchanted adventure in this exciting and imaginative story with nail-biting passages.” —Booklist

    “Zhang blends fantasy and adventure in this series debut celebrating art, imagination, and a time-honored Chinese folktale….A charming and exciting read.“ —School Library Journal

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