It’s the Year of the Dragon for this Lunar New Year cycle and the perfect year to dive into these dragon-themed books! My youngest is into dinosaurs right now, and we are studying the connection between dinos and dragons as part of our Ancient Studies. Here’s a compilation of books about dragons, from scientific to just plain silly.
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Picture Books about Dragons
All of these picture books about dragons are best for preschool through mid-elementary. Older children may still enjoy the short stories and beautiful art; my 11-year olds surely do!
The Eastern Dragon
Nian: The Chinese New Year Dragon, by Virginia Loh-Hagan and Timothy Banks
This is our favorite book for Chinese New Year. It introduces the traditions behind the Spring Festival (Lunar New Year in China) and the dragon who started them all.
Shu Lin’s Grandpa, by Matthew Goodfellow
Highlighting Chinese brush painting, there is a gorgeous fold out of a scene with a dragon. Shu Lin is at a new school in a new country and it is through her grandpa’s art that she finally finds a connection with her classmates.
Eastern and Western Dragons
These two picture books are perfect for the child who is half-Asian and half-Caucasian. Each story explores being biracial and the beauty in the blending of cultures.
Gondra’s Treasure, by Linda Sue Park
This is a fun look into the differences between the western and eastern notion of dragons. Furthermore, Gondra is a mixed dragon with one dragon parent from each culture.
The Truth About Dragons, by Julie Leung
Beautifully illustrated, this book won the Caldecott Award for illustrator Hanna Cha’s beautiful art. In this story, the mother is telling the child about his two heritages at bedtime. His Asian grandmother can tell him about the eastern dragon, while his Caucasian grandmother can tell him about the western dragon, and they can both be true legends.
Fictional Chapter Books about Dragons
A Dragon’s Guide to the Care and Feeding of Humans, by Laurence Yep and Joanne Ryder
Recommended age: 8-11 years
My 7 and 8-year old kids enjoyed this fun read! It is told from the point of view of the dragon who calls the human her “pet.” Together, they save the city of San Francisco from magical creatures that have been released from a magical book. The dragon does use a spell to recapture the creatures, so please pre-read if this is a concern for your family.
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, by Grace Lin
Recommended age: 7 and up
Go on a fantastical journey with Minli and her dragon while learning Chinese folklore. If you haven’t read this Newbery Honor book yet, maybe this is the year! It’s great as a read-aloud and all of my kids enjoyed this feature of the Chinese dragon.
How to Train Your Dragon Series
Cressida Cowell has written 12 books in this series. The Dreamworks movies are loosely based on her story. Set in the time of Vikings, these books are good fun for the elementary aged child.
Scientific Resource Books about Dragons
Dragons: Legend and Lore of Dinosaurs, by Laura Welch and Bodie Hodge
This is a Christian resource looking at the connection between dragons and dinosaurs and the world legends surrounding them. It’s a very interactive book with flaps to lift and pockets to open, beautiful pictures and interesting stories.
Untold Secrets of Planet Earth: Dire Dragons, by Vance Nelson
This resource is another from the Christian worldview. The target age group is age 12 and up, as the text is very in-depth. After explaining the history and connection between dragons and dinosaurs, the book dives into the evidence of dragons in the art of various countries around the world. The countries mentioned are: the United States, Mexico, Peru, England, Wales, Netherlands, France, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Georgia, and China.
Dr. Ernest Drake’s Fictional Dragonology Series
These were a bit difficult for my 7-year old, but I left them out for my 11-year old boys. Very fun and fantastic fan fiction!
- Dragonology: The Complete Book of Dragons: contains flaps and things to touch
- Drake’s Comprehensive Compendium of Dragonology
- The Dragonology Handbook: A Practical Course in Dragons
- Tracking and Taming Dragons: A Guide for Beginners