Katie Moench is a librarian, runner, and lover of baked goods. A school librarian in the Upper Midwest, Katie lives with her husband and dog and spends her free time drinking coffee, trying new recipes, and adding to her TBR.
Dragons have always captured kids’ imaginations. From early myths and legends to medieval manuscripts and classic picture books, there’s something about a dragon’s mix of flight, magic, and fire-breathing that draws in readers. Especially for young readers, stories about dragons can offer an opportunity to imagine other worlds and places as well as to hear stories about brave knights, daring princesses, and even dragons who turn out to be friends, rather than foes.
So many classic children’s books feature dragons, from Tomie dePaola’s The Knight and the Dragon to the award-winning Saint George and the Dragon and the beloved, contemporary Dragons Love Tacos. While earlier dragon stories often focused on a threatening, fire-breathing monster, today’s dragon books offer a variety of dragons, including classic adventure stories, two dragons that lead a young boy through a bedtime story, and a sleepy dragon getting ready for school. With these magical stories, you’ll be sure to find a book your child will love!
The Truth About Dragons by Julie Leung and Hanna Cha
A Caldecott Honor book and winner of the Asian Pacific American Award for Picture Books, Julie Leung’s words and Hanna Cha’s illustrations bring to life the story of a young boy who is listening to a bedtime story told by his mother. As the story comes to life through the boy’s imagination, readers see two dragons, representing each of his grandmothers, in a story that blends Eastern and Western traditions.
The Bakery Dragon by Devin Elle Kurtz
Ember is a tiny dragon who wants to be big and fearsome, but when he roars, it sounds like a sniffle, and when he breathes fire, the villagers think it’s adorable rather than terrifying. Ember worries that he’ll never collect a pile of treasure like the other dragons have, but when he stumbles upon a bakery and a friendly baker, Ember learns that sometimes treasure that you make yourself is the best kind.
Billy and the Dragon by Nadia Shireen
Billy and her loyal sidekick Fatcat are enjoying a costume party that is suddenly disrupted when Fatcat is taken by a dragon! With the help of a hedgehog, some mice, and a group of adorable bunny rabbits, Billy will find her bravery and save Fatcat, and the party, in this fun and fast-paced take on a fairytale.
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The Clockwork Dragon by Jonathan Emmett, Illustrated by Elys Dolan
The Kingdom of Rodney is under attack from Flamethrottle: a fearsome and fire-breathing dragon! Luckily, Max, a young toymaker, and Lizzie, an armourer, are ready to take Flamethrottle on using their wits, their engineering skills, and a pile of scrap metal.
Waking Dragons by Jane Yolen, Illustrated by Derek Anderson
Two sleepy dragons must get ready for school! Follow along with them and their friendly knight as the dragons tumble out of bed, feast on waffles served via catapult, and head out into the world in this sweet and rhyming book.
We have plenty of other book recommendations featuring dragons! Check out these dragon books for kids of all ages and these young adult series that feature dragons.
English (US) · 