This photo is of our new ornament for the year. I try to get a new one each year, and this one seemed appropriate. For some reason, dragons have been big in our house the past couple of years and I love the way this dragon seems to have taken possession of the candy cane (MINE). Anyway, with dragons on the mind, it seemed like a good time to share some of our favorite dragon stories. Here's a pretty good list if you have a dragon lover in your life!
On the little kid, picture book front...
Trafalgar True (A Serendipity Book) by Stephen Cosgrove (A sweet book with a lesson on sharing) 5 and up
Dragons Dragons by Eric Carle (...a fun rundown on mythical beasts) 5 and up
Saint George and the Dragon adapted by Margaret Hodges from Edmund Spenser's Faerie Queen (A retelling of an old story with lovely artwork. A little violent, but I had to include it in any list of dragon stories.)
The Knight and the Dragon by Tomie Paola (... a lovely little picture book showing how you learn from books and sometimes work things out in ways you didn't expect.) ages 4 and up
The Tale of Custard the Dragon by Ogden Nash (...another cute rhyming book about bravery). ages 3 and up
Beginner chapter books and Juvenile literature:
Kenny and the Dragon by Tony DiTerlizzi (semi-beginer chapter book about a little rabbit and his new friend. It's a rehash of The Reluctant Dragon in essence.) ages 8 and up.
Magic Tree House Series #37: Dragon of the Red Dawn by Mary Pope Osborne (Jack and Anne go to ancient Japan and learn some Japanese mythology) ages 6 and up.
Dragonrider by Cornelia Funke (a boy, a dragon, and a brownie set off to save all of dragon kind) ages 9 and up.
How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell (I of-course must include this one, which was just made into movie. It is indeed an entertaining story.) ages 7 and up.
Hatching Magic and The Dragon of Never Was by Ann Downer (These are entertaining stories that will take you in unexpected places. I enjoyed them myself, and for Harry Potter fans, wizards are involved.) ages 9 and up.
Dragon's Milk, Flight of the Dragon Kyn, and Sign of the Dove and by Susan Fletcher (A young girl finds herself a surrogate mother to a small group of baby dragons while trying to find a cure for her sister. This series of books are great fantasy reading.) ages 9 and up.
The Reluctant Dragon by Kenneth Grahame (No list would be complete without this classic. Is has been made into films and theatrical productions. A story where the dragon would rather not fight and the message is to not judge people, or dragons, before you meet them.) ages 8-11
Dragonsdale, and Dragonsdale #2: Riding the Storm by Salamanda Drake (Another cute set of stories about a young girl and dragons. Maybe not my favorite, but fun.) ages 8 and up.
The Fire Within, Icefire and Fire Star (and more in this series) by Chris D'Lacey (These books were not my favorites. I found them rather predictable and not super well written, but my daughter enjoyed them. Clay dragons that come to life and another spunky little girl heroin.) ages 7 and up
The Dragon Princess by E.D. Baker (A princess with a dark secret. She turns into a dragon when she is angry. An endearing series of books about Millie the princess and her adventures.) ages 8 and up.
Dragonology: The Complete Book of Dragons. (Every thing you might want to know about dragons from the true expert, Dr. Earnest Drake. This book is full of cool little pockets, maps, and other extras.) ages 8 and up.
Dragon Slippers, Dragon Flight and and Dragon Spear by Jessica Day George (Yet another spunky female heroin. A very fun series.) ages 10 and up.
Dragon Slayer's Academy by Kate McMullan. (Comedic little books with a boy for a young hero. Zany and good for kids just starting on chapter books.) ages 7 and up.
The Last Dragon by Silvana DeMari. (This little gem was my daughters favorite book for a whole year. It is funny and sweet and will charm you.) ages 9 and up.
Young Adult and Adult books:
Eragon, Eldest and Brisingr by Christopher Paolini. (These, of course, were made into a movie recently. The author was at the time of writing a teenage homeschooler, so that is a bonus. I've read enough fantasy at this point to find these a little predictable and shallow character-wise, but still fun.) ages 12 and up.
Dragons of Pern series Anne McCafferey and now Todd McCafferey (Dragonriders of Pern series, Harper Hall trilogy, and many more books set in this fascinating world. (I've read Anne McCafferey's books voraciously and love the world she created. It's a little bit of sci-fi, a little bit a fantasy, and well developed and likable characters. Her son has recently taken over and tried to continue the saga. Still my favorite series to this day.)
I'll end with The Unexpected Dragon by Mary Brown (This is a lovely trilogy, engaging, fun and surprising. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy. I don't usually keep my fantasy books after I read them, but I couldn't let this one go.)
Happy holidays to you all and happy reading!
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