Here are 100 books that Dragon Was Terrible fans have personally recommended if you like
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I love dragon stories and love to write stories with dragons. They spark my imagination and can be a menacing presence or powerful ally in any story. As a children’s book author, a parent, and a teacher of very young children, I feel dragons make remarkable central characters in many stories. These stories all take a dragon character and make them an ally and a friend. My most recent book focuses on this theme and these are some other just wonderfully written and illustrated picture books I have read and shared with my kids and students that teach about friendship and overcoming differences.
A young knight befriends a terrifying dragon with a penchant for baking near his home. They spend their time baking together and enjoying many cookies.
The time is coming, however, for the annual duels when a young knight must spear a dragon, and dragons must eat a knight that he cooked with his own breath! What will they do? This book is lyrical and charming and the illustrations are just perfect for the story. I’m sure by the end, everyone will want some scrumptious cookies!
In a mythical kingdom, a knight and a dragon cook up a delicious plan to save their friendship! In Dough Knights and Dragons, a curious knight and an amiable dragon meet serendipitously, and instantly bond over their shared love of baking. But the friends are filled with sadness when, according to the law, the two must duel one another. Can the unlikely pair find a way to evade the law, save their friendship, and spread good throughout the land? Kids will devour this scrumptiously clever tale!
It is April 1st, 2038. Day 60 of China's blockade of the rebel island of Taiwan.
The US government has agreed to provide Taiwan with a weapons system so advanced that it can disrupt the balance of power in the region. But what pilot would be crazy enough to run…
From my work as a playwright and breakbeat poet, Artistic Director of Seattle Children’s Theatre, and full-time co-parent, I've dedicated my career to crafting engaging narratives that resonate across generations. With over sixty original plays to my name, I've honed a unique approach that intertwines hip-hop rhythms with rich storytelling. My debut picture book is a testament to this approach—inviting children and parents to discover the boundless creativity that can be found in everyday spaces. It’s my hope that this book inspires families to explore their homes with fresh eyes and open hearts, turning reading into an adventure of imagination.
Your Name Is A Song is a deeply personal book for anyone who's ever felt their name was misunderstood. This story celebrates the melody and significance of names from various cultures, encouraging children to take pride in their identities.
Having grown up with a unique name myself, I understand the importance of this affirmation. This book is a powerful tool for empowerment and inclusivity, teaching both children and adults to appreciate the diversity and beauty of names and the stories they carry.
Frustrated by a day full of teachers and classmates mispronouncing her beautiful name, a little girl tells her mother she never wants to come back to school. In response, the girl's mother teaches her about the musicality of African, Asian, Black-American, Latinx, and Middle Eastern names on their lyrical walk home through the city. Empowered by this newfound understanding, the young girl is ready to return the next day to share her knowledge with her class. Your Name is a Song is a celebration to remind all of us about the beauty, history, and magic behind names.
I promise that will be the only egg pun I will use. Just the one. Eggsactly one. Oops.
While my debut novel, Ava, is primarily about the clash of reproductive rights with conservative politics set in the South, it is obviously also about eggs and my bias towards them as an amazing evolutionary triumph. Even the title of my book is an intentional nod toward my love of eggs as Ava means both “bird” and “life”. With that in mind, I wanted to highlight five books that I love that are very egg-centric (and I will maintain this is more of a portmanteau than a pun).
I loved this book as a kid, and I make a reference to this classic in a chapter of my book.
Whenever I want to quit a particularly frustrating endeavor, I still hear Horton’s voice in my head: “I meant what I said, and I said what I meant.” Those words, spoken by a cartoon elephant, have helped me persevere and taught me the importance of loyalty and keeping my word.
It’s a message as meaningful for adults as it is for children.
Horton the elephant babysits an egg in this classic tale of kindness from Dr. Seuss.
Everyone laughs when Horton the Elephant offers to sit on Mayzie bird's egg while she goes on holiday. Horton's kindness and faithfulness are sorely tested when he, and the egg, are kidnapped and sold to a circus - but his reward for being faithful is more wonderful than he could ever have dreamed!
With his unique combination of hilarious stories, zany pictures and riotous rhymes, Dr. Seuss has been delighting young children and helping them learn to read for over fifty years. Creator of the…
The Year Mrs. Cooper Got Out More
by
Meredith Marple,
The coastal tourist town of Great Wharf, Maine, boasts a crime rate so low you might suspect someone’s lying.
Nevertheless, jobless empty nester Mallory Cooper has become increasingly reclusive and fearful. Careful to keep the red wine handy and loath to leave the house, Mallory misses her happier self—and so…
I’m C.M. Harris, a passionate children’s author who believes in the transformative power of kindness and friendship. My bestselling book What If We Were All The Same! has been recognized for teaching children about acceptance and inclusion. For over 15 years, I’ve worked with children and families to foster positive values, and my writing reflects my dedication to creating stories that inspire. I curated this list because I’ve seen how books can shape young minds, and I’m excited to share these meaningful stories that celebrate friendship and kindness.
This book is such a clever and fun way to show kids how to turn someone from an enemy into a friend.
The story left me smiling and reminded me of how understanding and spending time with others can change our perceptions. It’s a classic with a powerful message.
It was the perfect summer. That is, until Jeremy Ross moved into the house down the street and became neighborhood enemy number one. Luckily Dad had a surefire way to get rid of enemies: Enemy Pie. But part of the secret recipe is spending an entire day playing with the enemy!
In this funny yet endearing story, one little boy learns an effective recipes for turning your best enemy into your best friend. Accompanied by charming illustrations, Enemy Pie serves up a sweet lesson in the difficulties and ultimate rewards of making new friends.
I was bullied as a child, both at home and in school. My parents always took my little sister’s side, and punished me. When I got bullied at school, my parents and teachers just told me to work harder on throwing a ball. My escape was books. I found it reassuring that kids in books who got bullied survived and learned and had fun in their lives even if they also had to deal with bullying.
Nico is a nature lover. At recess, he doesn’t always want to swing on the swings. Sometimes he wants to sit and watch ants carrying seeds to their anthills.
One day birds come up to him. He enjoys the birds. The other kids call him “bird boy.” He knows they are teasing him. He knows they are being mean. But he thinks about what the words mean. And he surprises himself by smiling.
After that, he not only watches birds, he pretends to be different birds. A few other children become fascinated by his imagination. They like him for who he is. Birds and all.
1
author picked
Bird Boy
as one of their favorite books, and they share
why you should read it.
This book is for kids age
4,
5,
6, and
7.
What is this book about?
Take flight in this heartwarming story about a boy who learns to be true to himself at school while following his love of nature.
Nico was new, and nervous about going to school. Everyone knew what to do and where to go, but Nico felt a little lost.
So, he did what he loved to do: Watched the insects Sat in the grass And most importantly... befriended the birds.
Before he knew it, Nico was known as BIRD BOY. But Nico didn't mind. Soon, he made one friend, then two, as the other kids learned to appreciate Nico for who…
I love dragon stories and love to write stories with dragons. They spark my imagination and can be a menacing presence or powerful ally in any story. As a children’s book author, a parent, and a teacher of very young children, I feel dragons make remarkable central characters in many stories. These stories all take a dragon character and make them an ally and a friend. My most recent book focuses on this theme and these are some other just wonderfully written and illustrated picture books I have read and shared with my kids and students that teach about friendship and overcoming differences.
A group of dragons is desperate for a break from their day-to-day, pondering where they could go for a vacation. Should they go to the clouds? To a waterfall? To the ocean?
This book is just bursting with colorful characters and every kind of dragon there is. Told in verse, this is wonderful for a read-aloud at circle time. The art is cute and very appealing, and it is definitely one of my favorite dragon books to share with the kids in my class.
When the mighty dragons need a break, where do they go?
Do they soar to hidden waterfalls, frolic with mermaids in the sea, or visit faraway castles to play with knights and princesses? This whimsical rhyming adventure will spark your child's imagination and take them on a magical journey through the possibilities of a dragon's dream getaway.
Perfect for bedtime or storytime, Where Do Dragons Go on Vacation? invites young readers to explore fantastical locations and ponder the mysteries of these mythical creatures.
Themes and Topics for Parents and Teachers:
Imagination and Creativity: Encourages children to dream big and envision…
Don’t mess with the hothead—or he might just mess with you. Slater Ibáñez is only interested in two kinds of guys: the ones he wants to punch, and the ones he sleeps with. Things get interesting when they start to overlap. A freelance investigator, Slater trolls the dark side of…
I love dragon stories and love to write stories with dragons. They spark my imagination and can be a menacing presence or powerful ally in any story. As a children’s book author, a parent, and a teacher of very young children, I feel dragons make remarkable central characters in many stories. These stories all take a dragon character and make them an ally and a friend. My most recent book focuses on this theme and these are some other just wonderfully written and illustrated picture books I have read and shared with my kids and students that teach about friendship and overcoming differences.
Dragon is the best at making balloon sculptures, drawing, and performing with his drums and guitar. He beats Frog in the race and is NOT a good winner. Dragon is a show-off and stacks the highest block tower. And then one day no one is around, because no one likes a “Braggin Dragon”.
This book has a great message about learning to appreciate your friends and how to be humble. The art in this book is excellent. The character design is brilliant and funny, and the book and text design works really well. A fantastic book on friendship to add to a classroom.
The Braggin’ Dragon is a fun book that teaches children how to compliment, be positive, and reap the rewards of positive energy and friendships.
Meet a dragon that can’t help himself from bragging. He brags all the time, but the problem is he starts to lose friends doing so. "I’m faster than Horse, of course. That’s not how you jog, Frog!" And just like that, Frog and Horse don’t want to spend so much time around Dragon. It goes on with the other animals until Dragon is, almost alone. Determined to help his friend, Crow stays behind and offers some…
I love dragon stories and love to write stories with dragons. They spark my imagination and can be a menacing presence or powerful ally in any story. As a children’s book author, a parent, and a teacher of very young children, I feel dragons make remarkable central characters in many stories. These stories all take a dragon character and make them an ally and a friend. My most recent book focuses on this theme and these are some other just wonderfully written and illustrated picture books I have read and shared with my kids and students that teach about friendship and overcoming differences.
Zala is a young sheep that lives in the countryside of Slovenia and she LOVES dragons. Her dream is to be one someday, and she sets out on a quest across Slovenia to find a real dragon. Her journey takes her far and wide. She crossed the lake to a medieval town called Radovijica, and then on to Ljubljana and walked along the canals. Images and sculptures of dragons follow her on her journey. Finally, in a cave far away, she finds a creature they call a dragon, and they become fast friends together.
The art has a wonderful and soft watercolor and cut paper feel to it. The story takes the reader across Slovenia and even has a glossary of words in the back. A great and imaginative story for young children.
Zala needs YOUR help in finding the last of the dragons in Slovenia! Do you think she will find the dragon? Do you think she has what it takes to become a dragon too? Do you think you’ll find your own inner dragon along the way?. Legend has it that during medieval times, dragons roamed around Slovenia. Zala goes on a quest around Slovenia in hopes of finding the last of the dragons. As she travels through different areas of Slovenia, she makes a lot of friends, and she learns more about Slovenia than just what she knows from her…
I was a classroom teacher for 15 years who transitioned to writing children’s books. Starting with picture books, I now write graphic novels. My target audience is 2nd-5th graders and they really get my wacky sense of humor. My passion for silly comedy, from Abbott and Costello to the Marx Brothers, started at an early age and infuses my mission to help reluctant readers become enthusiastic and proficient readers. I feel strongly about this goal because I was once a reluctant reader and I can appreciate what these kids might be going through.
Reading was not one of my favorite activities growing up. That might sound strange from a children’s book author, but it’s true. Nowadays, I like all kinds of books.
This hilarious graphic novel, which is chock full of wacky illustrations, is definitely one of them. Where were graphic novels when I was a kid?
Big Nate (actually he’s not that big) is a funny, mischievous, lovable 11-year-old, who gets into all sorts of ridiculously tricky situations with friends, family members, and teachers that keep the action moving and reluctant readers of every age actively engaged.
The latest in this NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING series
Look out, Big Nate fans, it's Payback Time! In this newest Big Nate collection, everyone's favorite sixth-grade renaissance man is up to his usual schemes and misadventures - developing a strange allergy to Mrs. Godfrey, inflating his goalkeeper statistics, and even mentoring a kid in detention. But he's not the only one creating mischief. Francis, Teddy and Chad trade blows in an ongoing snowball fight, a bully finds an unexpected surprise in his locker, and Nate's rivalry with Gina takes a Halloween twist. Nate also courts disaster when a lunch room…
Growing up, my family moved about every three years, so I became an expert at making friends at a young age! As a clinical psychologist and a mom of four, I’ve spent a lot of time talking with kids about friendship issues. I’ve also studied the scientific research on children’s friendships. I’m a professor for The Great Courses, serve on the advisory board for Parents magazine, and my blog, Growing Friendships on Psychology Today, has over four million views. I’ve written six books for parents or kids about children’s feelings and friendships, and I have two more kids’ books on the way.
For ages 4-6, this silly parody of a How-To book gets a laugh from young elementary school children, while also helping them recognize the impact of various common but ungenerous behaviors. It offers backward “tips” such as: “Be a poor sport. When you play tag and someone tags you, lie and say they missed.” Kids enjoy feeling smarter than the book. It ends on a warm note and also prompts children to share their ideas of how to be a good friend.
With exuberant pictures and a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor, the author of I Like Me! takes a light-hearted look at bratty behavior that will have children laughing in recognition while learning exactly how not to behave. Colored-pencil illustrations throughout.
