Happy Appreciate A Dragon Day! Yes, that’s another one of those weird made up holidays, but also I love books with dragons, and I’m not going to NOT share about them if given the chance. Some just have appearances of dragons, and the dragons are main characters in others, but if you also have a love for these large scaly beasts, be sure to check out some of the books on this list! Here are 10 I’ve read and enjoyed:
- The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein – However you pronounce his name, Smaug’s greed and treasure hoarding (classic dragon) sets off one of the greatest adventure stories ever written.
- Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin, illustrated by Daniel Salmieri – One of my daughter’s favorite picture books, and one I don’t mind reading over and over. It’s also guaranteed to make you want tacos!
- Blazewrath Games by Amparo Ortiz – Honestly, who doesn’t want to compete in a tournament where you and a dragon compete for glory?
- Priory of the Orange Tree by Samatha Shannon – This epic fantasy tome has a bonus of having good dragons (no wings, water-based) vs. bad dragons (fiery, can fly).
- The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter – Truthfully, there were a lot fewer dragons than I expected in this book, but they were central to the plot and interwoven beautifully.
- How to Train Your Dragon – A cute early reader series that’s been turned into a great movie series as well. I’m hoping this book will eventually lead my kiddo to liking dragons as much as I do!
- A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan – The perfect combination of historical fiction and fantasy. The book is written from the perspective of a journal by the world’s leading expert on dragons, who just happens to be a woman (gasp)!
- The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis – The dragon in this book plays a relatively small part, but it’s integral to a central character’s growth.
- The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill – This book flips the script: instead of the dragon being large and overwhelming, he is perfectly tiny, and a wonderful addition to a lovely cast of characters.
- Highfire by Eoin Colfer – Take it from me, if there was (is?) a dragon living in the swamps of Louisiana, this is exactly what he’d be like: surly, frequently inebriated, but with a heart of gold.
Did we miss any of your dragon favorites? Let me know at ellen@booksforward.com!
Ellen Whitfield is senior publicist at Books Forward, an author publicity and book marketing firm committed to promoting voices from a diverse variety of communities. From book reviews and author events, to social media and digital marketing, we help authors find success and connect with readers.
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