Who can resist the lure of a dragon? Magical, powerful, and beautiful, the mysterious creatures appear in many childrenâs stories and fairy tales for a reason: Theyâre really cool! This list includes books featuring dragons to appeal to kids who love adventurous, dramatic tales, as well as readers who like their dragons to be more funny than scary.
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1. Dragon Was Terrible by Kelly DiPucchio, illustrated by Greg Pizzoli
The dragon in this playful picture book is terrible, but in the ways toddlers can be terribleâscribbling in books and stealing candy. The low-threat and comical conflict will make this a favorite with the preschool and kindergarten set.
Buy it: Dragon Was Terrible at Amazon | Dragon Was Terrible at Bookshop
2. Puff the Magic Dragon by Peter Yarrow and Lenny Lipton, illustrated by Eric Puybaret
Peter Yarrow and Lenny Lipton co-created the 1959 song, âPuff the Magic Dragon,â which would go on to become a childrenâs classic. Now the song comes to life on the pages of this picture book, beautifully illustrated by Eric Puybaret.
Buy it: Puff the Magic Dragon at Amazon | Puff the Magic Dragon at Bookshop
3. Good Night, Little Dragons by Leigh Ann Tyson
How do dragons get ready for bedtime? This sweet and funny tale finds out, with three little dragons brushing their fangs, taking a bath, and serving as good examples for little ones who also need to get through their bedtime routine.
Buy it: Good Night, Little Dragons at Amazon | Good Night, Little Dragons at Bookshop
4. Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin, illustrated by Daniel Salmieri
This hilarious picture book from author-illustrator duo Adam Rubin and Daniel Salmieri is a celebration of both dragons and tacos (so long as those tacos arenât spicy, which can cause major problems for fire-breathing dragons).
Buy it: Dragons Love Tacos at Amazon | Dragons Love Tacos at Bookshop
5. Attack of the Underwear Dragon by Scott Rothman, illustrated by Pete Oswald
An assistant knight has to take over for the head knight when the much-feared Underwear Dragon descends on the kingdom. This funny and positive picture book is joined by its sequel, Return of the Underwear Dragon.
Buy it: Attack of the Underwear Dragon at Amazon | Attack of the Underwear Dragon at Bookshop
6. The Knight and the Dragon by Tomie dePaola
Beloved author and illustrator Tomie dePaola offers an inventive new take on the knight-dragon relationship. In this picture book, both the novice knight and the not-very-fierce dragon each study up on how to defeat each other, with charming and funny results.
Buy it: The Knight and the Dragon at Amazon | The Knight and the Dragon at Bookshop
7. The Magnificent Book of Dragons by Stella Caldwell, illustrated by Gonzalo Kenny
Part of a series of beautifully illustrated guides to different types of creatures, this entry is devoted to dragons. Detailed drawings of different types of dragons are joined by maps of dragon lands and more.
Buy it: The Magnificent Book of Dragons at Amazon | The Magnificent Book of Dragons at Bookshop
8. A Friend for Dragon by Dav Pilkey
Dav Pilkey of Captain Underpants and Cat Kid fame also has this sweet little series about a lovable, though sometimes misguided, dragon. This book is the first of five and is perfect for readers graduating from picture books to easy reader texts.
Buy it: A Friend for Dragon at Amazon | A Friend for Dragon at Bookshop
9. Dragon Masters series by Tracey West, illustrated by Graham Howells and Damien Jones
This series, in which every book follows a dragon whose powers center on an element of the natural world, is a perfect one for beginning readers to explore as they build their confidence reading independently. In each book, Drake pairs with a different dragon as they prepare to fight an evil wizard. The box set contains volumes 1 to 5.
Buy it: Dragon Masters at Amazon | Dragon Masters at Bookshop
10. Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke
In the first book of this trilogy from Funkeâa prolific writer of magical books for childrenâthe dragons of the realm want only to live in peace. But itâs only the dragon Firedrake, accompanied by his human friend Ben, who is willing to seek out a land where dragons can be safe. This mystical adventure will capture the hearts of grade school readers.
Buy it: Dragon Rider at Amazon | Dragon Rider at Bookshop
11. How to Train Your Dragon series by Cressida Cowell
Kids probably are familiar with the movies of the same name, based on this bestselling series by Cressida Cowell. The complete book series will ignite the interest of young independent readers eager to enjoy the full adventures of Hiccup and his dragon, Toothless.
Buy it: How to Train Your Dragon at Amazon | How to Train Your Dragon at Bookshop
12. Dragonology: The Complete Book of Dragons by Dr. Ernest Drake and Dugald A. Steer
Presented as an official guide written by the nineteenth century dragonologist Dr. Ernest Drake, this guide to all things dragons will delight the creaturesâ most ardent admirers. The magical volume includes tactile page spreads, allowing readers to feel dragon skin, scales, and wings, as well as pages devoted to various dragon species and theories on how dragons speak, why they hoard items, and more.
Buy it: Dragonology at Amazon | Dragonology at Bookshop
13. Wings of Fire series by Tui T. Sutherland
The first five books in this popular series are collected in this boxed set, giving readers plenty to connect with in the saga of five dragonets who are the subjects of a prophecy that states they will end the war in their land. But the spunky flyers have plans that run counter to fate. Some readers report the graphic battle scenes arenât for faint-hearted readers, but others say that their dragon-adoring kids manage quite well.
Buy it: Wings of Fire at Amazon | Wings of Fire at Bookshop
14. The Inheritance Cycle series by Christopher Paolini
Author Christopher Paolini began writing Eragon, the first book in his Inheritance Saga, when he was only 15. The adventure begins when a poor farm boy finds what he thinks is a blue stone that feels like good luck. It turns out to be a dragon hatchling that propels the boy, Eragon, on a journey that could save or end the Empire.
Buy it: The Inheritance Cycle at Amazon | The Inheritance Cycle at Bookshop
15. Dragonflight: Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey
This first entry in Hugo Award-winning Anne McCaffreyâs fantasy series Dragonriders of Pernâabout a lowly kitchen girl and the dragon she forms a bond withâhas been reissued a number of times as it continues to find new fans in middle-school age readers. Some reviewers acknowledge that this first volume gets off to a slower start but that the series becomes better paced and more gripping as it goes on.
Buy it: Dragonflight at Amazon | Dragonflight at Bookshop
Want more literary adventures? Check out our list of fun fairy tales for kids!
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