In honor of Bilbo Baggins and his birthday this week (September 22), we have a book list celebrating his defeat of Smaug, the great dragon: it’s full of dragon books! Most of the dragon books below feature enemy dragons that are defeated; a few feature friendly—or even reluctant—dragons. You’ll find Bilbo himself keeping company with other “Classics” below. Titles are linked to RR reviews where applicable. Enjoy!
Note: Per our usual, titles are listed roughly in ascending age order, although many can be enjoyed by a wide variety of ages. And, as always, we encourage you to read discerningly! Some of the fantasy titles (particularly those for older teens) have some cautions/considerations; we encourage you to read our reviews where applicable and/or do your research with other review sources, too.
Spiritual Resources
Revelation (this is the ultimate dragonslayer story!)
NIV Incredible Creatures Bible
The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan (especially recommended for dragon illustrations is The Dangerous Journey by Oliver Hunkin; ages 6 and up as a read aloud; preview images; the newest edition from Moody is also lovely)
The Dragon and the Garden by N. D. Wilson (picture book)
Tales of the Kingdom by David and Karen Mains (dragons + spiritual allegory; ages 8 and up, especially as a read aloud
Dragon Seed by Marty Machowski (middle grades devotional)
The Prince Warriors Series by Priscilla Shirer (middle grades fantasy allegory)
Folklore and Legends
St. George and the Dragon by Margaret Hodges and illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman (picture book)
The Knight and the Dragon by Tomie DePaola (picture book)
The Dragon Slayer: Folktales from Latin America by Jaime Hernandez (graphic novel; ages 7-10)
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin (ages 8 and up, especially as a read aloud)
Dragons and Dragonslayers by Tim Chester (ages 8 and up; a great read aloud with significant spiritual commentary in the last 3 chapters)
Book of Dragons by E. Nesbit (Deliverers of Their Country, a picture book, is from this compilation; ages 10 and up)
Fierce Wars and Faithful Loves by Edmund Spenser with notes by Roy Maynard (retelling of The Faerie Queene; ages 14 and up)
Beowulf (see list for options!)
- Beowulf (graphic novel) adapted by Gareth Hinds (ages 12 and up)
- Kid Beowulf by Alexis Farjada (graphic novel series that reimagines the legend)
- Beowulf retold by Michael Morpurgo (ages 10 and up; good read aloud)
- Beowulf retold by Rosemary Sutcliff (ages 10 and up; good read aloud)
- Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney (Betsy’s favorite translation)
- Beowulf, a New Verse Rendering by Douglas Wilson
- Boys of Blur by N. D. Wilson (no “dragon,” per se, but an adaption of Beowulf; ages 12 and up)
- The Coming of the Dragon by Rebecca Barnhouse (novelized adaptation; ages 14 and up)
Classics and Biographies
The Reluctant Dragon by Kenneth Grahame and illustrated by San Souci (picture book; look for other versions if San Souci is hard to find)
My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Gannett Stiles (Chapter book, good read aloud, even for fairly young children)
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C. S. Lewis
The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald’s Dragons: the Story of J. R. R. Tolkien by Caroline McAlister (excellent picture book biography)
J. R. R. Tolkien for Kids by Simonetta Carr
Contemporary Fantasy and Dragon Stories
Dragon Quest by Allan Baillie (excellent! picture book)
The Dragon by Archibald Marshall (illustrated by Ardizzone/ out of print but excellent!)
The Best Pet of All by David LaRochelle (easy reader; ages 4-8)
The Boy Who Grew Dragons by Andy Shepherd (ages 7-11)
Andrew and the Firedrake by Douglas Wilson (ages 8-12)
The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson (ages 8+)
Henry and the Chalk Dragon by Jennifer Trafton (ages 8-12)
Bootlace Magician by Cassie Beasley (wyrm versus dragon BUT . . . .; highly recommended; ages 8+)
Fires of Invention by Scott Savage (Cove Series; ages 10-12)
Handbook for Dragon Slayers by Merrie Haskell (ages 10+)
The Inquisitor’s Tale by Adam Gidwitz (ages 10+)
The Dragon’s Tooth by N D Wilson (ages 10+)
The Goblin’s Puzzle by Andrew Chilton (ages 10-15)
Dragons at Crumbling Castle by Terry Pratchett (short stories; ages 10-14)
Genevieve of Alea by Emma Vanderpol (written by a teenager! Ages 12-15)
The Language of Spells by Garret Weyr (ages 12 & up)
The Enchanted Forest Chronicles (esp. book 4: Talking to Dragons) by Patricia Wrede (ages 12 & up)
Seraphina by Rachel Hartman (note significant considerations for remainder of series; ages 14+)
The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde (ages 14+)
Eragon by Christopher Paolini (we have not read the rest of the series; ages 15+)
Readers: what are YOUR favorite dragon stories? Tell us in the comments!
Related Reading from Redeemed Reader:
- A Resource: Here Be Dragons: a Mega Sci-Fi and Fantasy List
- A Reflection: Reflection in a Dragon’s Eye (Janie muses over the efficacy—or lack thereof—of representing Christ as Aslan and offers her thoughts on The Voyage of the Dawn Treader film)
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I recommend the How to Train your Dragon series by Cressida Cowell for kids 8+ and HIGHLY recommend the book Heartless (Tales of Goldstone Wood) by Anne Elizabeth Stengl for ages 12+. This book was reviewed by RR back in 2011 with a less than stellar review, but it’s my favorite redemption story involving a dragon.. it really touched me to the point of tears! I think dragon-loving readers should give it a chance!
Thanks, Jennifer!
My fantasy loving children really like the Dragons in our Midst series by Bryan Davis, and the series beginning with Dragonspell by Donita K. Paul.
I highly recommend the witty and adventurous Dragon Slippers series by Jessica Day George. Also, not technically a classic dragon, but if your kids like fantasy, Michael Ende’s “The Neverending Story” with Falcor the Luck Dragon is a beautiful and wildly creative epic tale (yes, they based the 1980’s movie on it). (And of course the book is so much richer, although they did a fair adaptation.)
Christie, thanks for the recommendations! We’ve reviewed some of George’s delightful Castle series, but I had never heard of
Dragon Slippers. The Neverending Story is a great suggestion too–we should have thought of that one.