Dragons are one of the most loved creatures in children’s stories, and the best dragon books for kids give young readers everything at once: adventure, humour, big feelings and a little bit of danger. Some dragons are fierce, some are clumsy, and some just want a taco. Whichever kind your child likes, there is a dragon book waiting for them.
We chose these 15 books to cover every age from toddlers to confident older readers. The list mixes picture books, early chapter books, longer fantasy adventures, a graphic novel and a fun fact book, so there is something for reluctant readers and bookworms alike. Each book is in print in the UK, and we have listed the age recommended by the publisher or bookseller so you can pick the right one quickly.
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Dragon Picture Books (Ages 2 to 8)
These read-aloud favourites are perfect for bedtime, story time at school, and little readers who love to look at the pictures.
There’s a Dragon in Your Book by Tom Fletcher
Recommended Age: 2 years and up
This interactive story turns your child into part of the action. A baby dragon hatches from an egg, and it soon sets the book on fire. Children have to stroke, poke and flap the pages to help the little dragon calm down and go on an adventure of her own. It is a great pick for toddlers who cannot sit still, because they are busy doing things the whole way through. Greg Abbott’s bright pictures do a lot of the storytelling.
Zog by Julia Donaldson
Recommended Age: 3 years and up
Zog is a keen young dragon at Madam Dragon’s school who wants to win gold stars, but he keeps crashing, bumping and burning things. Luckily a kind girl is always nearby to patch him up, and she becomes important when Zog is sent to capture a princess. Julia Donaldson’s rhyming text is fun to read aloud, and Axel Scheffler’s pictures are full of small details to spot. The story is also a lovely way to talk about kindness and helping others.
Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin
Recommended Age: 4 to 8 years
If you want to throw a party for dragons, you had better serve tacos. This silly story explains everything you need to know, from the best toppings to the one thing you must never let a dragon eat. Things go wrong when spicy salsa is added to the menu, and the results are very funny. Daniel Salmieri’s pictures add plenty of jokes, so children often want to read it again as soon as it ends. It is a good choice for kids who enjoy silly stories.
Dragon Books For Early Readers (Ages 5 to 9)
These short chapter books are ideal for children who are ready to read on their own, with plenty of action and quick chapters.
Dragon Masters #1: Rise of the Earth Dragon by Tracey West
Recommended Age: 5 to 9 years
Drake is an eight-year-old who is chosen by the king’s soldiers to become a Dragon Master. At the castle he meets three other young trainees, and each one has to learn how to bond with a dragon that has its own special power. Drake and his new friends also start to uncover the secrets of the mysterious Dragon Stone. The chapters are short, the pages have pictures, and the series is long, so a child who enjoys book one has plenty more to read.
The Dragonsitter by Josh Lacey
Recommended Age: 7 years and up
When his Uncle Morton goes on a trip, Edward agrees to look after his pet dragon for a few days. He soon discovers that dragons eat a lot, break things, and cause chaos wherever they go. The story is told through emails between Edward and his uncle, which makes it quick to read and very funny. It is a lovely first step into chapter books, and Garry Parsons’ drawings keep the pages lively.
Beast Quest: Ferno the Fire Dragon by Adam Blade
Recommended Age: 7 years and up
Tom sets out on a brave quest to free the magical beasts of the land of Avantia, and the first beast he has to face is Ferno the Fire Dragon. This is the first book in a very popular series, packed with battles, riddles and cliffhangers. It is a good choice for children who like fast action and want a series to collect. Each book is a complete adventure, so it is easy to dip in and out.
Dragon Books For Ages 8 to 12
These longer stories are full of world-building, humour and heart. They suit children who enjoy fantasy and want a book they can really get lost in.
How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell
Recommended Age: 7 years and up
Hiccup Horrendous Haddock is a small Viking boy on the Isle of Berk, and he has to pass the Dragon Initiation Programme to be accepted as a proper Viking. Hiccup is not the strongest or bravest, but his kindness, cleverness and sense of humour help him find his own way to train dragons. Cressida Cowell’s own drawings fill the pages, and her jokes work well when read aloud. This is the first of a long series, so there are many more adventures to follow.
Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke
Recommended Age: 8 years and up
Firedrake is a young silver dragon who has to leave home when humans threaten the valley where his family lives. Together with a small brownie called Sorrel and a boy named Ben, he sets off on a long journey to find a legendary place where silver dragons can live in peace. It is a big, old-fashioned adventure about courage, friendship and finding somewhere to belong. The book has sold more than a million copies in English and has been made into a film.
Wings of Fire: The Dragonet Prophecy by Tui T. Sutherland
Recommended Age: 9 years and up
Seven dragon tribes have been at war for years, and a secret group wants to end the fighting. To do it, they raise five young dragonets to fulfil an ancient prophecy. The dragonets escape from their underground home and set off to discover where they really come from, and their journey changes the whole war. This is the first book in a huge series, so it is perfect for readers who want to spend a long time in one world. If it inspires you to write your own, try our Wings Of Fire writing prompts.
The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart by Stephanie Burgis
Recommended Age: 8 to 12 years
Aventurine is a young dragon who is determined to prove she is brave and fierce. After she is tricked into drinking a magical hot chocolate, she turns into a human girl, and she finds herself in a strange city and a chocolate shop. She soon falls in love with chocolate, and she has to decide who she really wants to be. It is a warm, funny story about friendship and being true to yourself, and it may leave you hungry.
Dragons at Crumbling Castle by Terry Pratchett
Recommended Age: 9 years and up
This collection has fourteen short stories from one of Britain’s best-loved fantasy writers. In the title story, a castle is invaded by dragons, and a small boy named Ralph has to fill a suit of armour to help defend it. The other tales include wizards, knights, time travel and plenty of silliness. The stories are short, so this book is great for children who like to finish a story in one sitting, and it is a good introduction to Terry Pratchett’s style of humour.
The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde
Recommended Age: 8 years and up
Jennifer Strange is fifteen and runs Kazam, an agency that hires out magicians, in a world where magic is fading away. Business is bad, and then visions start to say that the last dragon is about to die, and that Jennifer will be part of it. The story is clever, funny and full of odd ideas, such as creatures with a mind of their own and rules that change from one kingdom to the next. It is a good pick for readers who enjoy humour as much as adventure.
The Tea Dragon Society by K. O’Neill
Recommended Age: 9 years and up
This gentle graphic novel is a calm, cosy break from battles and burning castles. It follows a young blacksmith’s apprentice who discovers a magical world of tiny tea dragons and the people who care for them. Its themes are friendship, patience and looking after others, and the soft, detailed pictures make it a lovely book to read slowly. It is an excellent choice for children who like art as much as words, or who prefer comics to long chapters.
Dragonology: The Complete Book of Dragons by Dugald Steer
Recommended Age: 8 years and up
This is a fact book about a fictional subject, written as if dragons were real. It comes as the journal of a Victorian dragonologist called Dr Ernest Drake, and it sorts dragons into kinds and describes how they live. The 20th anniversary edition has extras to open and touch, including letters and a sprinkle of magical dust. It is perfect for children who love to browse, and it is full of ideas for making up your own dragon.
Dragon Book For Confident Older Readers
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Recommended Age: 9 years and up (a long book, so best for confident readers)
A farm boy named Eragon finds a strange blue stone in the forest, and it turns out to be a dragon egg. When the dragon hatches, Eragon is pulled into a world of magic and danger, and he has to train as a Dragon Rider to face a cruel empire. It is a long, epic story with battles, so it suits older readers who love fantasy and want a book to last them a while. Younger children may want a grown-up to check it first.
Summary
Whether your child wants a giggle at bedtime, a long series to collect, or a cosy graphic novel, there is a dragon book on this list to match. Start with the picture books for the youngest readers, move on to the early chapter books as confidence grows, and save the big fantasy adventures for when they are ready for a longer read.
If your dragon fan also loves making up stories, they can invent their own with our dragon story ideas or pick a name from the Dragon Name Generator, then turn their idea into a story with the free Imagine Forest Story Creator.
Which dragon book are you most excited to read? Let us know in the comments below.
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