Amara and the Garden of Three Gates

Behind a low garden window, a baby dragon presses a wing against the glass. Eight-year-old Amara promises to help—but three puzzling gates stand between her and the trapped creature.

Amara has a map, a copper watering can with a crack, and a sharp eye for details. At the first gate, a leaf shadow refuses to fit its outline. At the next, the shortest water channel leads nowhere useful. And near the nursery, one careless pour makes things worse. To reach Gilly, Amara must notice what the garden is telling her: how shadows shift, where water flows, and when a gentle drip matters more than a splash.

With Gilly’s safety at stake, each discovery brings Amara closer to the nursery—and to understanding why the gates respond to rain. Can she work out what the garden needs before the way out closes?

A warm, illustrated adventure for readers ages 8–12, this story pairs a curious young hero, a baby dragon, and clever garden mysteries in a tender tale of observation, patience, and friendship. Its inviting details make it a lovely choice for independent reading or sharing aloud.