Celebrate Dragon Appreciation Day on January 16th!

On January 16th, readers of all ages can celebrate one of the most magnificent creatures that has been a part of our imagination and mythology. Many books, films and shows center around dragons: from shimmering dragon eggs, to taming them, and becoming friends with them – dragons are a delight! Dragons also are known to protect treasure as illustrated in J.R.R Tolkien’s beloved classic The Hobbit.  Dragons can also represent the embodiment of enlightenment  in Asian mythology/spirituality.

We can  learn more about dragons as we celebrate Dragon Appreciation Day and for some other festivities in January please check out the Library’s January Festivities blog post.

There is a Dragon in the Library
By Diane De Las Casas
(3rd-6th Grade)
Library Collection
In this delightful tale, young Max tries to inform the adults in his life (the librarian, his mom, his father and others) that there is a dragon in the library. The dragon even munches on Where the Wild Things Are and many other books! However, everyone thinks that Max just has an overactive imagination. This is a fun book with repetitive storytelling that will keep readers interested and wondering if the adults will ever believe Max.

East Dragon, West Dragon
By Robyn Eversole
(Pre-K-3rd Grade)
Library Collection
What happens when two dragons from the opposite sides of the world dislike each other? While the East dragon knows and  likes the emperor, the West dragon doesn’t really care for knights or kings. When the two dragons have to work together to save the kings from the West, they realize that, perhaps, they can help each other instead of worrying about who is more fierce. A great story that highlights how to work together as a team for the greater good.
The Dragon Ark: Join the Quest to Save the Rarest Dragon on Earth
By Curatporio Draconis & Illustrated by Tomislav Tomic
(3rd-6th Grade)
Library Collection
Meet the dragons of the world – from the Amazon rainforest to Antarctica. This book is illustrated with stunning pictures of dragons in their natural habitat. We meet common species of dragons in Africa, readers will discover Dragon’s Breath Cave and dragons in the Sahara desert.
Dear Dragon
By written by Josh Funk & IIllustrated by Rodalfo Montalvo
(Pre-K-3rd  Grade)
LibraryCollection
Dear Dragon is a touching story about a friendship between a boy and a dragon. George Slair receives an assignment from his classroom teacher to write to a pen pal. The two friends share their adventures, favorite classes, family stories and how they spend their days. The letters also have to rhyme in poetic verse. Dear Dragon is a sweet story about friendships and pen pals!
There was an Old Dragon Who Swallowed a Knight
By Penny Parker Klostermann & Illustrated by Ben Mantle
(Pre-K-3rd Grade)
Library Collection
This is a delightful tale that follows the pattern of “There was an Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly.” Readers will be familiar with the rhythm of the story as they witness a dragon swallowing a knight, along with a steed (that clippity clops their way into the book) , a squire, a cook, a castle and more!  This is a story for all ages.
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
By Grace Lin
(4th-6th Grade)
Library Collection
Feeling tired of being penniless, and enchanted by her grandfather’s stories; Minli leaves her home to go on a quest. She decides to try to find the Old Man of the Moon so that she can change her family's poverty into fortune. She encounters many interesting creatures and is accompanied by a dragon.
Dragons Love Tacos
By Adam Rubin/Illustrated by Daniel Salmieri
(Pre-K-3rd Grade)
Library Collection
In this charming story, readers find out that dragons absolutely love tacos. They even attend taco parties! However, dragons hate salsa. In this funny book, readers of all ages will want to find out why dragons hate salsa and what happens to them when they eat salsa with their tacos.
Dragons Eat Noodles on Tuesdays
By Jon Stahl & Illustrated by Tadgh Bentley
(Pre-K-3rd Grade)
Library Collection
Readers of all ages will love Dragons Eat Noodles on Tuesdays. Like Dragons Eat Tacos, this book is fun, and silly, and will keep young readers engaged. The book is a combination of clever storytelling (the characters are trying to come up with a story) that includes twists on the idea of the knight and the damsel in distress, is diverse, and has a fun ending. It is a delightful book!