Uptown Dragon by Marlon McKenny - Book//Hardback & Softback

In Uptown Dragon, 10-year-old Kamal discovers a baby dragon in the inner city after seeing a mysterious streak of light fall from the sky. Bringing the dragon home and naming him Ziggy, Kamal attempts to teach him things like how to play basketball, which Ziggy masters and how to fly, which Ziggy...doesn’t quite master. As Kamal and Ziggy’s friendship grows, so does Ziggy - springing from lizard-sized to dog-sized to horse-sized and beyond!

Too big to keep a secret in his bedroom any longer, Kamal and Ziggy search the city for Ziggy’s new hiding place when they’re discovered by workers who alert everyone, including the authorities, to Ziggy’s presence. Now on the run, Ziggy takes flight for the first time, with Kamal riding his back, as the two race to escape Ziggy’s capture.

Uptown Dragon is a heartwarming tale of friendship and perception that's a must-have for every family’s library. Lavishly illustrated using 3D technology, each page is carefully crafted to bring the beauty of this story to life.

About the Author

Marlon McKenney is an Award Winning San Francisco-based illustrator, author and creative director with over 20 years of professional advertising experience working in San Francisco’s top ad agencies. As a hands-on creative leader with real production chops, Marlon has a diverse skill set including video, interactive and a strong communication and presentation background. Solution oriented and optimistic, he has worked with Fortune 500 brands like Apple, Sony, Suzuki, EA, Motown, Universal Records, and JPMorgan Chase & Co., and continues to push creative boundaries.

He began his career as a Flash designer and Art Director for Gap Inc, Electronic Arts, and a plethora of advertising agencies including DDB, Publicis, and Digitas. Shifting his focus from interactive to broadcast, he later expanded his skill set to include video directing, motion graphics and editing. Working on a wide variety of brands from technology and pharmaceutical to video games and urban culture, Marlon develops strong client relationships and delivers emotionally-resonant creative that successfully achieves business goals.

In 2016, Marlon McKenney founded the independent publishing company, Conscious Culture Publishing. CCP is now a leading creator in African historical fiction and diverse multi-cultural content. Leveraging 3D technology, Conscious Culture creates highly-detailed illustrations and animations that bring African histories, mythologies, and legends to life.