Elliot Oppenheim has just lost his grandmother. She was his best friend in the whole world and the person who introduced him to the very thing he loves the most: music. Now, Elliot wants nothing to do with music, he just wants to stay in bed. But when a stylish dragon appears in Elliot’s room one night (after eating all of his mother’s delicious lasagne) Elliot reluctantly follows the dragon through his wardrobe and onto a magical train. There the adventure begins!

Simply put, this story is beautiful. It magically weaves loss and grief into the pages while transporting the reader through a wonderfully written adventure overflowing with joy and humour. As Elliot misses his grandmother, he realises through his adventures with the dragon what she taught him about music.

The Dragon on the Train explores what it feels like to appreciate music and how music can make us think and feel more deeply about the world. The story also manages to encapsulate perfectly what it feels like to grieve someone that you love dearly.

Ben Brooks is the author who gave us Stories for Boys Who Dare to be Different and Impossible Boy, and he has a talent for capturing hearts with his heartwarming characters, witty one-liners and thought-provoking messages. Suitable for all kids aged 8+.