We've covered dragon picture books for kids, now it's time for a big list of recommended dragon books for ages 8-12, in other words, "tweens." If your tween reader still dreams of fierce fire-breathing dragons or friendly dragon companions, then these are the dragon book series and stand-alone dragon novels to read.
This list includes early chapter books about dragons for younger readers as well as middle grade dragon books, plus a bonus section! All of these book recommendations are courtesy of a particular child who has read every book in the library catalog with the word, "dragon" in the description. (No joke.)
Table of contents
Early Chapter Books & Series
These dragon books are good choices for newly independent chapter book readers ages 7 to 10. They are also appropriate for precocious readers ages 5 and 6 years old
THE DRAGON ARK: JOIN THE QUEST TO SAVE THE RAREST DRAGON ON EARTH by Curatoria Draconis, illustrated by Tomislav Tomic
Is your child a dragonologist? Then step aboard the Dragon Ark and join Curatoria Draconis' crew on their mission to save a rare and elusive dragon! On the adventure they will encounter different dragon species on each continent. All the dragons are individually detailed with exquisite drawings and copious field notes. Note: This isn't actually a chapter book; it is an oversized picture book that reads somewhat like a guidebook or travel album.
JEREMY THATCHER, DRAGON HATCHER (series) by Bruce Coville
An eccentric shopkeeper insists Jeremy take home a mysterious box. Inside the box is an egg which hatches into a small dragon, and now Jeremy must quickly learn how to take care of it. The dragon cannot stick around forever, but tending him helps Jeremy discovers new ways of navigating the perils of tween-dom. There are several books in the series, all with children who suddenly come face to face with something magical.
MORE: Magic Early Chapter Books
ZOEY AND SASSAFRAS: DRAGONS AND MARSHMALLOWS (series) by Asia Citro, illustrated by Marion Lindsay
Zoey is a can-do girl scientist who learns she has a super secret skill: she can see magical creatures. Her not-so secret skill is applying the scientific method to taking care of these creatures when they are injured. This charming early chapter book series that teaches kids scientific concepts with a fantasy twist is a welcome addition to a growing body of STEM literature.
DRAGONBREATH (series) by Ursula Vernon
Danny Dragonbreath has a bit of a problem: he can’t breath fire. In an effort to complete a school assignment, he drags his friend, Wendell, off on an adventure, which doesn’t turn out so well for Wendell, but Danny’s breath might just finally save the day. This is a combo novel-graphic-novel book that will make your kids laugh out loud.
THOMAS AND THE DRAGON QUEEN by Shutta Crum, illustrated by Lee Wildish
This is in the upper range of early chapter books, and is a good choice for kids who are on the cusp of reading middle grade novels. Our pint sized hero, Thomas, is off on his first quest to rescue a princess from a dragon. He has only his bravery, a donkey and his sword to aid him.
MORE: King Arthur Books: Dragons and Knights!
MY FATHER'S DRAGON (series) by Ruth Stiles Gannett
My Father's Dragon is my top recommendation for a first chapter book read aloud for their preschooler or kindergartener. Its short, engaging chapters, plentiful illustrations and unique characters will hook young listeners from the first page. Inevitably, when kids start reading chapter books on their own, they will want to revisit Elmer's adventures with the baby dragon again and again.
THE MAGICIAN'S BOY by Susan Cooper, illustrated by Serena Riglietti
A young magician's assistant waits patiently for the time when his employer will tell him he is ready to learn magic. When the magician's Saint George puppet disappears, the magician throws the boy into the "Land of Story." On his hunt to find Saint George, the boy meets familiar story book and nursery rhyme characters.
THE DRAGON IN THE LIBRARY (series) by Louie Stowell
It's summer vacation and while 10-year-old Kit and her two friends would rather romp around outdoors, they are drawn into the library. Once inside, Kit is shocked to find that when she touches certain books, she is transported to another place. The librarian informs her that she is a wizard. Kit now wants to use her newly discovered abilities to stop the horrible Mr. Salt from tearing down the library.
DRAGONS IN A BAG (series) by Zetta Elliott
One day, Jaxon's mom leaves him in the care of Ma, a woman who he thinks is his grandmother but who is actually a witch on a baby dragon delivery mission. Ma takes Jaxon on as her apprentice and they travel to a magical world. When they are set to return to Brooklyn, Ma is accidentally left behind and Jaxon enlists the help of his friends to take care of the baby dragons and rescue Ma.
MORE: Unicorn Books for Kids
Middle Grade Dragon Books
Your middle grade readers will love these magical dragon adventures for ages 8-12 (and up!). The conspicuous absence of Wings of Fire from this list may leave you scratching your head. But you already know about that series, which is why you are probably reading this book list in the first place. Am I right?
MORE: Books for Kids Who Like Wings of Fire
KENNY AND THE DRAGON (series) by Tony DiTerlizzi
I love this delightful retelling of Kenneth Grahame's classic, The Reluctant Dragon. It is easier to read than the original because the language is more modern than in the original. However, it's still a wonderful story of a boy (or a rabbit, in this case) who convinces the townsfolk that the vicious dragon is not such a threat after all. I also highly recommend the audiobook.
ALLIANA GIRL OF DRAGONS by Julie Abe
This is a wonderful retelling of "Cinderella" with Japanese elements. After her father falls into the abyss, Alliana is forced to live with her stepmother and step-siblings, working in the family inn, run by her mean-spirited relatives. Alliana dreams of escaping and attending the Regional Ball where she might be chosen for the Royal Academy. She befriends a young witch, Nela Evergreen, and rescues a nightdragon hatchling. Together they take a risk that might help Alliana reach her dreams. Ages 9 and up.
MORE: Fairy Tale Middle Grade Books
THE SCHOOL BETWEEN WINTER AND FAIRYLAND by Heather Fawcett
Autumn Malog is a beastkeeper on the grounds of a castle, the Inglenook School of Magic. Autumn's twin brother, Winter, has gone missing and although everyone else has given up, Autumn believes he is somehow magically trapped inside the castle. Magic student, Cai, whom everyone believes to be a hero named in a prophecy, but is secretly afraid of dragons, agrees to help Autumn rescue her brother if she will help him overcome his fears.
MORE: Books like The Land of Stories
WHERE THE MOUNTAIN MEETS THE MOON by Grace Lin
Minli's family lives in poverty and Minli sets out on a quest to find the Old Man of the Moon and change her family's destiny. Along the way she is accompanied by the Jade Dragon and her journey is filled with twists and turns of fate. Lin deftly weaves together Minli's quest, her father's stories, and wonderful illustrations to create a memorable tale. Don't forget the companion books, Starry River of the Sky and When the Sea Turned to Silver.
THE RELUCTANT DRAGON by Kenneth Grahame
If your kids balk at the unfamiliar sentence structure and vocabulary of many older classic books, a short novel like this one may be just the ticket. It is a charming, but engaging story. A boy befriends a poetry-loving dragon in the caves near his village. When the rest of the village learns of the dragon, they assume he is a threat and enlist St. George to rid them of the beast. Instead, the boy, dragon and St. George successfully conspire to bring everyone together and show the villagers that their prejudice is misplaced.
WHAT WE FOUND IN THE CORN MAZE AND HOW IT SAVED A DRAGON by Henry Clark
Cal and his pal, Drew, pick up a mysterious binder that a classmate, Modesty, dropped in a cornfield. The binder is full of tongue-twisting, 800 word magic spells. But there's a catch. Magic only works for one minute at several specific times a day, and all the spells are weirdly specific, "To untangle yarn," "to find lost coins," "to change a room's color," to name a few. Eventually, the three kids are whisked away to a parallel world where magic is in danger of disappearing. Lots of humor and fun word play make this an extra magical read.
ICE WOLVES (series) by Amie Kaufman
Twins, Rayna and Anders, live by the seat of their pants. Homeless orphans, they must use their wiles to survive. During a village ceremony which reveals which 12-year-olds have the power to shape-shift into wolves, each twin discovers they have magical blood. Rayna can shape shift into a dragon and Anders into a wolf. The trouble is, the dragon and wolf blood communities are mortal enemies. Now Rayna and Anders must discover the secret of why that is.
THE LEGEND OF HOBART by Heather Mullaly
I was not prepared for how much I would enjoy this short novel! The charming, wry humor manages to be both hilarious and moving. Hobart dreams of going to the King's School for the Education of Future Knights. He doesn't have a sponsor to nominate him, so he sets out to prove his mettle by accomplishing some heroic deeds. He can't rescue any damsels, because they already know martial arts and can save themselves. Instead, he goes on a quest to slay a dragon. But the quest ends quite unexpectedly and Hobart's deeds have us all thinking profoundly about the nature of heroism. Quietly and humorously, wonderful. Also recommended as a read aloud.
DRAGON PEARL (series) by Yoon Ha Lee
Korean mythology and science-fiction merge to create an exciting fantasy! Min's mother has forbidden her to use her fox-magic, but Min feels stifled by domestic life and longs to join the Space Forces. When something mysterious happens to her brother, Jun, Min goes in search of the truth, encountering adventure beyond her wildest imagination.
HANDBOOK FOR DRAGON SLAYERS by Merrie Haskell
Aspiring author Princess Tilda is an independent-minded princess who has never even considered slaying dragons because of her disfigured foot. However, her cousin, Ivo, wishes to steal her kingdom and she ends up fleeing her home. The ensuing adventure involves magic, capture, a menacing Blue-beard character, and (of course) dragon slaying.
THE DRAGON WARRIOR (series) by Katie Zhao
Faryn lives as an outcast, training in secret as a warrior. One day, when on an errand in San Francisco's Chinatown, she encounters a stranger who is later revealed to be Erlang Shen, the god of war. Erlang Shen announces a quest from the Jade Emperor and Faryn's adventure begins.
ANYA AND THE DRAGON (series) by Sofiya Pasternack
Set in medieval Russia where the common use of magic is now against the law, Anya still hopes that her own magic talent will reveal itself to her. Because her family is Jewish, they are outsiders in their village and the local magistrate is trying to force them out. When Ivan and his family, a family allowed to use magic, come to the town, they enlist Anya’s help in tracking down a mysterious water dragon. Anya agrees to help them in order to save her family's farm. Anya and Ivan must protect the dragon from others who want to destroy it. Pasternack skillfully draws upon story elements from Russian, Slavic and Jewish folklore.
THE DRAGON WITH A CHOCOLATE HEART (series) by Stephanie Burgis
When Adventurine the dragon is turned into a human girl with a taste for chocolate she decides to head towards the human village to try and prove her worth. A heartwarming, thrilling book and I love that the narration was from the dragon-girl's point of view. Splendid.
Bonus Books
As I said, my son has read every dragon book in the library catalog and if your child is the same, here are some more of his recommended books! (These are also on the printable book list you can grab below.)
- A DRAGON'S GUIDE TO MAKING YOUR HUMAN SMARTER by Joanne Ryder & Laurence Yep
- THE ADVENTURER'S GUIDE TO DRAGONS (AND WHY THEY KEEP BITING ME) (series) by Wade Albert White
- SILVER BATAL AND THE WATER DRAGON RACES (series) by K. D. Halbrook
- THE LAND OF ROAR (series) by Jenny McLachlan
- SPARK by Sarah Beth Durst
- DRAGON MOUNTAIN (series) by Katie & Kevin Tsang
- RIVER MAGIC by Ellen Booraem
- A DRAGON USED TO LIVE HERE by Annette LeBlanc Cate
- EMBER AND THE ICE DRAGON BY Heather Fawcett
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