The Magic Paintbrush: The Guardian's Quest

Name: The Magic Paintbrush: The Guardian's Quest
Brand: Penguin Random House NZ
SKU: 9780593179970
Price: 37.0 NZD
Availability: InStock

By Eric Darnell

0.0 (0 reviews)

Brief Description

In the second book of this epic fantasy series, eleven-year-old Amy's malfunctioning paintbrush accidentally paints a portal to a mythical world! But when she discovers that the paintbrush is running out of power, Amy must undergo a Trial to prove her worth as the guardian of... Read More

Format: Hardback

$37⁰⁰

AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

The Magic Paintbrush: The Guardian's Quest

$37⁰⁰

A Seven Sharp Visit and a Huge Thank You!

It's been a busy last week at Rawiri Place before our big move, with a...

BOARD GAME 18 Sep 2026

What I Read (and Played) in Bali

I always read more when I travel. There’s the flight over, the hotel breakfast where...

AMELIA'S CORNER 17 Sep 2026

A Puzzle for Every Season: Why I Love Seasonal Puzzles

From spooky Halloween puzzles to floral spring scenes and Christmas favourites we bring out every...

THE BOOK BRIEFING 16 Sep 2026

The Book Briefing - September 16th

This week there are so many exciting new book announcements out and about with covers,...

CRIME AND THRILLER 16 Sep 2026

Every crime/thriller Novel Lizzy has read this year (so far!)

Lizzy is sharing her crime and thriller reads for 2026 so far and giving you...

"Eleven year old Amy's malfunctioning paintbrush accidentally paints a portal to a mythical world, but when she discovers that the paintbrush is running out of power, she must undergo a Trial to prove her worth as the guardian of the magic paintbrush"--

Description

The Magic Paintbrush: The Guardian's Quest swoops readers off on a 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

Ever since she became the guardian of the magic paintbrush, Amy has been nonstop painting. But when her paintbrush starts glitching, she accidentally paints a portal to a strange, magical world filled with creatures of Chinese folktales!

A mysterious cat from the portal leads Amy and her friends Diego and Luna to Minli, who presents herself as the creator of the paintbrush and her magical forest. The magic paintbrush's power is dwindling. Amy has two weeks to complete a Trial, a series of three tests to prove she is worthy to be the paintbrush's guardian.

Amy's quest will take her to mystical places. She'll have help from Diego, Luna, and the secretive Cat who may be a friend or foe. Amy and her friends must face dangerous threats, perilous landscapes, and the ever-looming feeling that everything might not be what it seems...

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, on this story about responsibility, the power of friendship, and what it means to be worthy.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780593179970

Publisher: Random House USA Inc

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 29 July 2025

Country: United States

Imprint: Crown Books for Young Readers

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Width: 140.0mm

Height: 210.0mm

Weight: 300g

Pages: 240

Collections

Children's Books Children's Fiction Children’s, Teenage and Educational Eric Darnell Kat Zhang Penguin Books Young Adult

About the Author

Kat Zhang loves traveling to places both real and fictional-the former have better souvenirs, but the latter allow for dragons, so it's a tough pick! She wrote the young-adult series The Hybrid Chronicles, the middle-grade novels The Emperor's Riddle and The Memory of Forgotten Things, and the Amy Wu picture book series. Like Amy, Kat once thought being serious about art meant losing her "childish" fun but soon came to realize that fun was the most important part of all. Eric Darnell is Chief Creative Officer and Co-Founder of Baobab Studios, the world's leading independent interactive animation studio. Under Eric's leadership, Baobab Studios has won 10 Emmys, 2 Annie's, and first ever SIGGRAPH Immersive Best in Show Award. Baobab's latest VR piece, Baba Yaga, made its world premiere at the 2020 Venice Film Festival. Eric's career spans 25 years, and he is the second highest box office grossing writer and director of animated feature films, and was the director and screenwriter on all four films in the Madagascar franchise and an executive producer on The Penguins of Madagascar. Previously, Eric directed DreamWorks Animation's very first animated feature film, Antz. Phoebe Zhong is a character designer, visual developmental artist, and illustrator based in Beijing

Also by Eric Darnell

View all

The Magic Paintbrush

In this highly illustrated 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 the Dragon Pearl series. In this highly illustrated series launch, Amy, an Asian American girl, picks up an ancient...

By Eric Darnell and Kat Zhang

Paperback

$21⁰⁰

Available
Ships in 4-6 weeks
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. In this highly illustrated series launch, Amy, an Asian American girl picks up an ancient paintbrush and...

By Eric Darnell and Kat Zhang

Hardback

$36⁰⁰

Available
Ships in 4-6 weeks
The Magic Paintbrush: The Guardian's Quest

In the second book of this epic fantasy series, eleven year old Amy's malfunctioning paintbrush accidentally paints a portal to a mythical world! Amy must undergo a Trial to prove her worth as the guardian of the magic paintbrush before it loses its power.“Gorgeous and gripping, The Magic Paintbrush swoops readers off on rip-roaring fantasy adventure…” Soman Chainani, author of...

By Eric Darnell and Kat Zhang

Paperback

$21⁰⁰

Available
Ships in 4-6 weeks

Also by Kat Zhang

View all

The Magic Paintbrush

In this highly illustrated 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 the Dragon Pearl series. In this highly illustrated series launch, Amy, an Asian American girl, picks up an ancient...

By Eric Darnell and Kat Zhang

Paperback

$21⁰⁰

Available
Ships in 4-6 weeks
Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao

A Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book of 2019 Meet the funny, fierce, and fearless Amy Wu, who is determined to make a perfect bao bun today. Can she rise to the occasion? Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao introduces us to Amy, who loves to make bao with her family. However, crafting the perfect bao requires skill to ensure they...

By Kat Zhang

Hardback

$35⁹⁹

Available
Ships in 4-6 weeks
Amy Wu and the Ribbon Dance

When Amy Wu learns about Chinese ribbon dancing, she can’t wait to try it out herself in this charming and brightly illustrated fourth instalment in the Amy Wu picture book series. Amy Wu loves to move. From wriggling to shimmying to toe-tapping, she just can’t keep still, not when there’s music all around her! So when Amy sees Chinese ribbon...

By Kat Zhang

Hardback

$50⁰⁰

Available
Ships in 2-3 weeks
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. In this highly illustrated series launch, Amy, an Asian American girl picks up an ancient paintbrush and...

By Eric Darnell and Kat Zhang

Hardback

$36⁰⁰

Available
Ships in 4-6 weeks
The Magic Paintbrush: The Guardian's Quest

In the second book of this epic fantasy series, eleven year old Amy's malfunctioning paintbrush accidentally paints a portal to a mythical world! Amy must undergo a Trial to prove her worth as the guardian of the magic paintbrush before it loses its power.“Gorgeous and gripping, The Magic Paintbrush swoops readers off on rip-roaring fantasy adventure…” Soman Chainani, author of...

By Eric Darnell and Kat Zhang

Paperback

$21⁰⁰

Available
Ships in 4-6 weeks
Pre-order

Let's All Celebrate Lunar New Year!

Discover the amazing celebration of Lunar New Year! Join in with the exciting preparations and celebrations, from cooking and decorating to feasting and watching the fireworks. This vibrant board book, with its bright artwork and simple text, is all about Lunar New Year! Let's All Celebrate Lunar New Year! is the perfect introduction to Lunar New Year for young children,...

By Kat Zhang

Board book

$21⁰⁰

Pre-order
Out 10 Nov 2026
Avatar: The Last Airbender: Heart of a Hero

Longtime fans and newcomers alike will delight in this stunning picture book about what it truly means to be a hero, based on the iconic world of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Saving the world is a big job—especially for a kid. Aang has the makings of a hero: he's brave, kind, and peaceful. But when he learns he's the next...

By Kat Zhang

Hardback

Sold Out
Amy Wu and the Patchwork Dragon

In this sweet and brightly illustrated picture book, Amy Wu must craft a dragon unlike any other to share with her class at school in this unforgettable follow-up to Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao. Amy loves craft time at school. But when her teacher asks everyone to make their own dragon, Amy feels stuck. Her first dragon has a...

By Kat Zhang

Hardback

Sold Out
Amy Wu and the Warm Welcome

Amy Wu does her best to make her new classmate feel welcome in this warmhearted and playfully illustrated follow-up picture book to Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao and Amy Wu and the Patchwork Dragon. Amy’s class has a new student from China! Amy tries hard to make Lin feel included, but she can’t draw him out of his shell....

By Kat Zhang

Hardback

Sold Out
What's Left of Me

Fifteen-year-old Eva cannot move, cannot speak, and cannot scream. In her world, each body is born with two souls. She has the misfortune of being the recessive one, fated to fade away. But Eva never did. I should not exist. But I do. Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body,...

By Kat Zhang

Paperback

Sold Out

More from Children's Books

View all

Gruffalo Granny

The brand new Gruffalo picture book from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. The Gruffalo said to his daughter one day, "Your Gruffalo Granny is coming to stay." Return to the deep dark wood with the first new Gruffalo story in over 20 years, and meet Gruffalo Granny as she visits the Gruffalo family. This fresh and exciting new Gruffalo adventure...

By Julia Donaldson

Hardback

$24⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$30⁰⁰~~

Backorder
Ships early October
New Release

The Comeback Kid

Charlie Boy might be just an ordinary kid, but he's about to get into some EXTRA-ordinary trouble... Get ready for this funny, fast-paced, friendship adventure with lots of kick. Meet Charlie Boy: skinny, small, looks like a strand of spaghetti. He and his best friend, Rocky the Lower Hutt Chief, are good at getting into trouble together. But when Charlie...

By Airana Ngarewa

Paperback

$17⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$19⁹⁹~~

In Stock
Ships Monday
New Release

The Neverfear

A world of richly-imagined wonder Cressida Cowell It’s the Midsummer Feast on the Islet of Glimt and on this magical moonlit evening, the word on everyone’s lips is bandits. Reports of masked men burning villages are spreading throughout the Archipelago, but worse is still to come: Christopher and Anya are ambushed and one of the people they love most is...

By Katherine Rundell

Paperback

$19⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$22⁹⁹~~

In Stock
Ships Monday
New Release

Pocket Observology

Pocket Observology is a practical field guide designed for those who love to explore and understand the natural world around them. Slip this guide out of your pocket to identify, measure, compare, or find clues to the things you encounter every day in nature. This pocket guide is a useful tool and a fun reminder of how to engage with...

By Giselle Clarkson

Paperback

$23⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$27⁹⁹~~

In Stock
Ships Monday
New Release

Minecraft Annual 2027

The official Minecraft Annual 2027, full of updates, builds, activities, and more! Discover all there is to know about the past year of Minecraft in this exciting annual. Stuffed to the brim with updates, activities, step-by-step builds, and tips and tricks for the game, this book is a must-have for any minecrafter. This year’s annual includes: Mob guides on happy...

By Mojang AB

Hardback

$19⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$24⁹⁹~~

In Stock
Ships Monday
New Release

Giant Heart

Meet Jonah Lomu, one of the greatest All Blacks of all time. His speed and strength on the rugby field made him famous around the world, and his fun and generous personality made him beloved, but all the while he faced a big battle with his health. “[David Hill’s] stories are wonderful, full of action and are always teaching the...

By David Hill

Hardback

$19⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$25⁰⁰~~

In Stock
Ships Monday
New Release

Ms Rachel: My First Little Library

Learn about colours, animals, words and numbers with Ms Rachel in this early learning boxset. This little set contains four board books that help introduce children to early concepts. Perfect for younger readers, each chunky book will keep little hands occupied at home, or on the move. And, once you’re done reading (and re-reading), the four books come together to...

By Ms Rachel

Board book

$15⁹⁹

In Stock
Ships Monday
New Release

Lizzy's Pick

Protector of Beyond 1

Experience fierce magical creatures, perilous trials, and a heroine to root for in this 1st instalment in a new blockbuster fantasy series. The moment you enter the Arbiter, your fate is sealed. If you spark, you fight! And 12-year-old Elder Triss produces a spark like no other. Transported to the mysterious Beyond, Elder has no choice but to train for...

By Shara Curlett

Paperback

$21⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$24⁰⁰~~

In Stock
Ships Monday
New Release

Animalia 40th Anniversary Edition

A beautiful, foiled collector's edition to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Graeme Base's classic and bestselling Australian picture book, Animalia. Embark on a fantastical alphabetic adventure where each turn of the page unveils a rich tapestry of intricate illustrations tied to a unique letter of the alphabet. More than 5 million copies sold worldwide Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA)...

By Graeme Base

Hardback

$29⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$35⁰⁰~~

In Stock
Ships Monday
New Release

The Little Kiwi Builder

Oh no, the little kiwi builder's house is falling down! His screws have all come loose - what can he do? When the brickie, the plumber, the roofer, the sparky and the painter all come to help, it's looking good! Until, that night ... uh-oh! Perfect for: Anyone who likes fun and silly rhyming stories Reading aloud with little ones...

By Tim Saunders

Paperback

$18⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$21⁹⁹~~

In Stock
Ships Monday
New Release

You Choose Party Time

It's time to celebrate - Party Time is a brand new You Choose adventure! It's Party Time and you choose what happens! What kind of party will it be? Who will you invite? Which cake would you like to eat? Will you dance to a steel pan band or bagpipes? The possibilities are endless in this magical storytelling toolkit which...

By Pippa Goodhart

Hardback

$25⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$34⁰⁰~~

In Stock
Ships Monday
New Release

Matihe! Achoo!

What happens when a grumpy tupua has to sneeze? Matihe! Achoo! is a bilingual story about the tupua Mataoho and his connection to the volcanoes of Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland. It comes with an action song to engage young readers! He pūrākau e pā ana ki a Mataoho me ngā puia o Takamaki Makaurau. He tupua pukukino a Mataoho e noho...

By Qiane Matata-Sipu

Paperback

$18⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$21⁰⁰~~

In Stock
Ships Monday

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.