A Puff of Magic for Your Shelves:
10 of the Best Dragon Books for Kids
by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich
From Smaug in Tolkien’s classic The Hobbit to the Hungarian Horntail in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, dragons have enchanted readers through the ages. Sometimes fierce, sometimes really misunderstood, there are probably enough dragons in literature for every kind of reader. Here are a few magnificent dragon books to help you breathe a little fire into your family’s reading life:
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I'm a Dragon
Available from:This sweet book in the Little Golden Book series introduces kids to this magical creature. They’ll learn things like dragons have wings and they live in caves. But watch out! Just because this dragon is small, doesn’t mean he can’t still breathe fire!
(Ages 2 - 5)Also available from: -
King Jack and the Dragon
The New York Times called this celebration of imaginative play “at once contemporary and classic.” It’s a bedtime story that will offer parents a chance to reminisce and little ones the opportunity to dream new and exciting dreams.
(Ages 3 - 5) -
Dragons Love Tacos
Available from:Have you ever wanted to lure a dragon to your party? The secret is tacos. Lots and lots of tacos. But be careful. Once dragons start eating their favorite food, they'll want some salsa to go with it, and you better make sure it's not spicy!
(Ages 3 - 7)Also available from: -
Ellie’s Dragon
Available from:Ellie finds a baby dragon at the grocery store and brings him home. Inseparable at first, Ellie and her dragon gradually grow up and apart. This sweet and timeless book is an ode to imaginary friends and the comfort they bring to children.
(Ages 3 - 7)Also available from: -
There’s a Dragon in Your Book
Available from:There’s a baby dragon in your book and she’s so cute that you just can’t help tickle her nose. But that tickle makes her sneeze and suddenly your book is on fire! Enormously fun and imaginative, this interactive picture book will have readers blowing, tamping down, and flapping pages to help put out the fire.
(Ages 3 - 7)Also available from: -
There Was an Old Dragon Who Swallowed a Knight
Available from:There was an old dragon who swallowed a knight.
I don’t know why he swallowed the knight.
It’s not polite!Kids and parents will love reading this funny take on the classic There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly. Filled with hilarious illustrations, wacky rhymes, and a few big burps, this book is sure to be a hit.
(Ages 3 - 7)Also available from: -
Dear Dragon
Available from:“I decided to write a new picture book by mixing rhyme [and] poetry along with letter writing,” said Funk, about his sweet story of pen pals George and Blaise. The two share much about their lives, favorite hobbies and classes, and a mutual distaste for writing. What they don’t realize is that there’s one major difference between them: George is a human, and Blaise is 100% dragon. At its heart, a story of friendship overcoming differences, this rhyming picture book is a charmer. And, by the end, they both have a newfound appreciation for the joy of writing.
(Ages 4 - 8)Also available from: -
The Knight and the Dragon
Available from:In this book, a bumbling knight and a clumsy dragon must learn to fight each other by reading books on the subject. Who will be victorious in the end? This duel is one you and your child will never forget.
(Ages 4 - 8)Also available from: -
Warren and Dragon Series
Dragon is Warren’s "pet." One a 7-year-old trying to survive second grade at a new school, and the other a 700-year-old fire-breather that loves marshmallows, these two make quite a quirky duo. Warren and Dragon’s wonderfully silly stories are great for early chapter book readers looking for a laugh.
(Ages 4 - 8) -
The Unicorn Rescue Society: The Basque Dragon
Available from:As potential recruits for a secret organization committed to protecting mythical creatures, Elliot and Uchenna find themselves flying across the Atlantic in Professor Fauna's ramshackle airplane. Their mission? To find the missing dragon of Basque Country. Filled with quirky escapades and humor, kids will love diving into the entire series of adventures with The Unicorn Rescue Society.
(Ages 7 – 10)Also available from:
This article was originally published in 2016 and updated in 2021.