When Andy Beane is born, his six-year-old sister, Kara, knows right away that he is a special little boy, and not just because he is born with Down syndrome. The day he comes home from the hospital, a tiny, iridescent dragon named Lily, who is invisible to their parents, appears at his crib and is ever after by his side. Years later, the children meet Emma, a cat in our world but a Catkin in the magical kingdom of Catonia where cats walk upright and speak. Catonia is ruled by King John, a child with Down syndrome, until his necessary plan for a successor-Andy-begins to unfold. Emma sets off to bring Andy and Kara to Catonia, but in the meantime three wicked boys stumble into Catonia and plunge the kingdom into chaos by their cruelty. Thus begins the adventure of Andy Beane, who must find a way to rid the land of the abusive boys and bring peace to the realm of the Catkins.