I’ve been a bit busy with the day job (we’ve been trying to get 7 books out before leaving for Christmas break—we all get the week between Christmas and New Year’s off—and it’s been a scramble) and finishing up the very last of the critiques (I have a small handful left that I want to get back to authors on before Tu opens for submissions). So it’s been a little quiet around here, sorry! But perhaps it’s a relief after all those posts about the Kickstarter. 🙂
Today I break radio silence to build a book list. My sister reports that my five-year-old nephew is going through a dragon phase. He already has A Practical Guide to Dragons (how could he not? I think I gave a copy to every relative who wanted one, and then some), along with the one I edited, A Practical Guide to Monsters. My sister called while in the bookstore, looking for books to go with a Christmas present, and I could only think of the Dragon Codex books I edited. I didn’t even think of the Dragonology books off the top of my head, which would be perfect for him—some reading, but a lot of tactical exploring, as well. So now I’m putting together a list of books for her to look up at the library.
He’s only five, so picture books are welcome for the list. I’m just not as well-versed in them, so I don’t have a great lot of suggestions in that category. I’d love early readers and chapter books, because he can work on those on his own (though he might need help for some of the more advanced ones). They also read aloud a lot together, so suggestions for middle grade novels are definitely welcome.
Dragon Codex books by R.D. Henham (Red, Bronze, Black, Brass, Green, Silver, and Gold)—full disclosure: I edited these. They’re GOOD. And so of course they go at the top of the list. 😀
How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell
How to Speak Dragonese by Cressida Cowell
Dragonology (& all related books)
Kenny & the Dragon, Tony DiTerlizzi
Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher by Bruce Coville
Puff the Magic Dragon (picture book—we loved the song as kids)
Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke (I *knew* she had a dragon book!)
Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull—fun of all sorts, dragon doesn’t come in until most recent book
St. George & the Dragon by Margaret Hodges & Trina Schart Hyman
Magic Treehouse #37: Dragon of the Red Dawn (they love Magic Treehouse in their house–my nephew’s older brother devoured practically the whole series)
He must get Hush Little Dragon by Boni Ashburn. I gave it to my girl last year when she was five and it was her favorite present. It’s a spin on hush little baby except Mama’s gonna bring you a princess she found, or a king for lunch. Lovely illustrations and a sweet story. I bring to the classroom constantly because the kiddos keep asking for it. Fun stuff.
Oh and My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett, a Newbery Honors Book that is a delightful early chapter book with just enough pictures and wonderful humor for little ones. It has sequels: Dragons of Blueland and Elmer and the Dragon.
Tis the season for dragons, always! Merry holidays!
My son was and is still a huge dragon kid.
A couple of our favorites
Matthew’s Dragon by Susan Cooper–PB.
My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett–THE BEST book ever, a wonderful read-aloud for a 5-year-old.
When he’s older, there’s a sci-fi series starting with Dragon & Thief which is seriously cool!
The Dragons Are Singing Tonight by Jack Prelutsky and Peter Sis is a book of poetry, perfect for reading aloud.
You forgot Happy Solstice!
I knew I was forgetting something!
_Dove Isabeau_ by Jane Yolen, and _The Loathsome Dragon_, by David Weisner and Kim Kahng.
Both are picture books with full illustrations and a fair number of words, and both retell the same fairy tale, with gorgeous pictures. My kids were fascinated by the similarities and differences.
Probably a little old for him, but I love the Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede.
Yeah, Vada, those are YA books. He needs to understand the concept of irony first, I think–to know the old dragon stories before knowing how they’re turned around. But they are good ones!