Many kids are fascinated by dragons that can fly, blow fire, and possess magical powers. Dragon-themed chapter books capture young readers' imaginations by allowing them to enter a fantastical world, filled with excitement and adventure.
Classic Dragon Adventures
How To Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell is an action-packed, hilarious modern classic series of twelve books, based upon the adventures and misadventures of a ten-year-old Viking boy, named Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third. He is the quiet son of the chief of his tribe, the Hairy Hooligans, and is trying to pass an important initiation test by catching and training a dragon on his own. His life changes when he meets a dragon named Toothless, who seems to be quite different from what Hiccup dreamed of. There are currently four movies based upon the series, with the fifth being released in June, 2025.
Dragon Keepers by Kate Klimo is a series of six books about the adventures of ten-year-old cousins, Jesse and Daisy, who have always dreamed of something unusual and extraordinary to happen to them. Their wish comes true when they find a dragon egg that is about to hatch. They name the hatchling Emmy, and hide her in a sock drawer, vowing to take care of her and protect her from the villainous Saint George.
The Dragon Realm adventure series by Katie and Kevin Tsang is filled with epic quests, alternate realities, hidden realms, and plenty of laugh-out-loud humor. Dragon Mountain, the first of five in the series, begins with four kids, Billy, Dylan, Charlotte, and Ling-Fei who meet at a summer camp and discover a passage inside a mountain where four dragons have been trapped by powerful magic. As the kids bond with the dragons, the dragons become stronger, and the kids gain powers of their own. They must work together to defeat the Dragon of Death, who aims to destroy both dragons and humans.
The Boy Who Grew Dragons by Andy Shepherd tells the story of Tomas, a boy who discovers a mysterious tree that produces dragon fruit in his grandfather's garden. When he takes the fruit back to his house, he is shocked to see it unexpectedly hatch into a tiny, fire-breathing dragon. He begins to care for the dragon, named Flicker, but soon realizes that the tree is continuously growing more dragon fruit, and therefore more pet dragons. Many fun and hilarious adventures ensue as Tomas does his best to manage his new companions. The adventure and chaos continue in the sequel, The Boy Who Lived with Dragons.
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin, the first in a trilogy, is a heartwarming story about a girl named Minli who spends her days working hard in the fields and nights listening to her father tell fantastic tales about the Jade Dragon and the Old Man of the Moon.
There are currently five books in the Dragons in a Bag series by Zetta Elliott, whose protagonist is Jaxon, a nine-year-old boy living in Brooklyn. When Jax spends the afternoon with his elderly neighbor, he soon finds himself thrust into a space-time continuum where he must help three baby dragons get back into the magical realm. He uncovers some interesting family revelations during his adventures.
Stories of Magical Connections
The House with a Dragon in It by Nick Lake is about a girl named Summer who goes to live with a foster family. She feels very lonely as she tries to adjust to a new school and town. Her life changes when a mysterious hole opens up in the living room, which leads down to a dragon who promises her three wishes. As she begins to use these wishes, the hole in the floor gets bigger, and she realizes that she is jeopardizing her biggest wish of all, to find a permanent home.
The Dragon in the Library by Louie Stowell is a funny and fast-paced adventure story about a girl named Kit who doesn't like to read, but is dragged along to the library one day by her two best friends. She is convinced that it will be a boring afternoon, until she uncovers a plot by a power-hungry tycoon that puts the library and its resident dragon who has been hiding there, in danger. Kit realizes that it is up to her to find a way to save them.
Brandon Mull's Fablehaven series of five books tells the story of Kendra and Seth Sorenson, who visit their grandparents' farm in Connecticut only to discover a hidden sanctuary, where magical creatures are being protected from extinction. They soon become involved in the challenges of keeping Fablehaven safe from the villains who want to control and exploit its magic.
Kendra and Seth continue to use their skills, knowledge, and wits in Dragonwatch, the sequel series of five books. This series begins with them being sent to Wyrmroost, a dragon sanctuary where Celebrant, King of the Dragons, feels that it is time to regain their freedom, and plots an uprising.
Spark, by Sarah Beth Durst is about Mina, a shy girl from an Alorrian farm, where storm beasts and their guardians create perfect weather every day. Mina forms a bond with a dragon-like lightning beast named Pixit, and they discover that her country's perfect weather is coming at a great cost. Pixit helps Mina to believe in herself, and together they are determined to confront the powerful, corrupt authorities, and spread the truth.
Lightningborn is the first book in the Storm Dragons series by Julie Kagawa, with Firebred due to be released in April, 2025. Remy is a poor boy trying to survive the mean streets of Cutthroat Wedge. Gem is a princess who is determined to convince her teachers that she is not spoiled and lazy. Their lives change forever when their fates collide thanks to a baby dragon named Storm, believed to be extinct. They must work together to protect Storm from the evil pirate, Jhaeros, who wants to claim the rare dragon for himself.
Seekers of the Wild Realm, the first in the duology by Alexandra Ott is about a twelve-year-old girl named Bryn, who lives on a small island near the Wild Realm, a fantastical, untamed wilderness. Seekers are allowed to visit the Wild Realm, and Bryn would love to become one, but only boys have ever been chosen. Ari, a boy who also wants to become a Seeker, bonds with Bryn over their love of magical animals. Ari offers to train her if she helps care for a baby dragon he has been hiding, and they secretly travel to the Wild Realm together.
Epic Dragon Series
The Last Dragon on Mars is the first in The Dragonships series by Scott Reintgen. Fans of Eragon are sure to enjoy this one, as Lunar Jones, a boy living on Mars unexpectedly becomes a dragon rider. The planet is dying, and those left behind are struggling to survive, when Lunar discovers a dragon named Dread. He is thrust into the unexpected role of saving his planet from a curse placed by the Ares, the last dragon of Mars.
Lisa McMann's The Unwanteds series of seven books is set in a dystopian world called Quill, where kids are sorted into categories based on their abilities. Aaron and Alex are identical twins, who are separated at age thirteen. While Aaron is sent to a university, Alex finds himself in Artime, a fantastical place where kids learn magic. When a threat to the survival of Artime arises, the bond between the brothers is tested, and they find themselves pitted against each other.
Dragon Captives is the first of seven in the sequel series, The Unwanteds Quests. Fifer and Thisbe Stowe, the younger twin sisters of Alex and Aaron, have spent their entire lives wishing for an adventure. Their wish comes true when a dragon suddenly shows up, claiming that his family is being held captive by the evil ruler, Revinir. The twins decide to run away to the land of the dragons to rescue them.
Chris d'Lacey has written several dragon series. The Last Dragon Chronicles is a series of seven titles about David Rain, a college student who is a tenant of Liz Pennykettle, a potter who makes clay dragons, and her daughter Lucy. David soon discovers that the clay dragons come to life and have magical powers. Gadzooks, a dragon made by Liz as a housewarming gift, inspires him to write a story that reveals the truth behind an unsolved mystery.
The Erth Dragons trilogy by d'Lacey begins with The Wearle, a story about a colony of dragon explorers in search of an earlier colony that has disappeared, and Ren Whitehair, a boy living on earth. Ren disagrees with most humans who believe dragons are awful. He is determined to venture off into their territory.
The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart by Stephanie Burgis is the story of Aventurine, a brave dragoness who is determined to fly and explore the world outside of her family's mountain cave, even though they don't feel she is ready.
Cornelia Funke's Dragon Rider trilogy is about a dragon, a boy, and their extraordinary adventures together. The animated film, Dragon Rider, is based on the series.
The popular Wings of Fire series by Tui Sutherland follows the adventures of young dragons as they fulfill their prophecies and try to stop a war between their tribes over an ancient treasure, which has been going on for generations. The books are written from the perspective of the dragons, who have many human-like traits and display human emotions. The series currently consists of three arcs of five books each. Each book centers on its own protagonist. For graphic novel fans, there are currently eight titles in the series that are illustrated by Mike Holmes.
Graphic Novels for Dragon Lovers
Another series that is sure to please kids who love graphic novels is Dragon Kingdom of Wrenly by Jordan Quinn and Ornella Greco. The twelfth book in the series, Restless Ruins, is due to be released in July, 2025.
There are two books in the City of Dragons graphic novel series by Jaimal Yogis and Vivian Truong, with the third expected to be released in August, 2025. In the first, The Awakening Storm, Grace moves to Hong Kong with her mom and stepdad. She is concerned about making friends at her new boarding school. When a mysterious old woman gives her a dragon egg as a gift, she discovers that the dragon stories she heard when she was young might actually be real, especially when the egg hatches into a dragon with magical powers.
Please visit the Wyckoff Rizzo Children's Library and browse our Dragon-Themed Book Display this month. Also, please inquire about our monthly book clubs for kids of all ages, and visit, call us at #201-891-4866, x.3, or email denise.marchetti@wyckoff.bccls.org for more great suggestions.
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