Theme · Dragons
Dragon books for children: four picture books, and what is known about dragon fans
In picture books, dragons can be fierce, funny, shy or hungry. Below are four dragon picture books with publisher and age taken from BookTrust or Common Sense Media, and an honest account of what research does and doesn't say about why children take to dragons.
Why dragons: what is known, and what isn't
First, the gap. We found no study that explains why children like dragons in particular. What we can do is describe what these four books do with the figure, and that part is easy to check.
In The Paper Bag Princess the dragon is a fire-breathing menace that a clever girl outwits.1 In Dragons Love Tacos it is a party guest with a spice problem.2 In Zog it is a keen pupil at Dragon School.3 In Dragon Post it is a creature that needs room to fly.4
That range may be part of the appeal: a dragon can be frightening one day and a friend the next, and a child gets to decide which. This is our reading of the four books. No research finding stands behind it.
Four dragon picture books, checked
Four titles from four decades. Each age comes with its source, because the sources don't always agree on who a book is for.
Zog
Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler · Alison Green Books, 2011 · BookTrust: interest age 3+, reading age 6+
A young dragon wants to be the best pupil at Dragon School and win a golden star. A girl treats his injuries, and she turns out to be a princess who wants to be a doctor. BookTrust calls the rhyming text ideal for reading aloud.
Dragons Love Tacos
Adam Rubin, illustrated by Daniel Salmieri · Dial Books, 2012 · Common Sense Media: age 4+, publisher's recommended age 3 to 7 as listed there
A boy throws a taco party for his dragon friends and misses the warning on the salsa jar. The dragons breathe fire and wreck his house, then help rebuild it. A funny first book about dragons for children who like a silly warning.
The Paper Bag Princess
Robert Munsch, illustrated by Michael Martchenko · Annick Press, 1980 · Common Sense Media: age 4+, publisher's recommended age 4 to 7 as listed there
A dragon attacks and Princess Elizabeth loses her castle, her clothes and her fiancé. She sets off in a paper bag to find both and uses her wits on the dragon. The oldest book on the list, and the one where the dragon is most menacing.
Dragon Post
Emma Yarlett · Walker Books, 2018 · BookTrust: interest age 5 to 8, reading age 6+
Alex finds a dragon living under the stairs and writes letters to the fire brigade and the butcher for advice. With help from his friend Hillary he realises the dragon would be happier with room to fly. Five letters are included in the book.
Three things to check before bedtime
How scary is the dragon? Common Sense Media notes that the dragon in The Paper Bag Princess sets fires that destroy forests and leaves horse bones behind, which may upset younger children.1 In Dragons Love Tacos the fire is an accident at a party, and the dragons help clear up.2 If your child is sensitive, look at the pages first.
Who is the book for? The same book can carry different ages. Dragons Love Tacos is age 4+ at Common Sense Media, 3 to 7 as the publisher's recommended age listed there, and 3 to 5 at Kirkus Reviews.25 Treat each number as a rough guide and let the child's reaction decide.
Who is the dragon? A dragon can be a menace, a guest, a pupil or a pet. Before you choose, ask your child which one they would like to meet.
Or a story of their own
If your child should be the hero
- Your child finds a large egg in the garden and has to keep it warm through a cold night until it hatches.
- The dragon at the top of the hill has lost its fire. Your child works out what it needs to get it back, with help from the neighbours.
- Your child is invited to Dragon School for a day, with a flying lesson, a very small first roar and a party at the end.
Frequently asked questions
- From what age are dragon picture books suitable?
- The sources give different answers, even for one book. Zog is interest age 3+ at BookTrust, Dragons Love Tacos is 4+ at Common Sense Media, The Paper Bag Princess has a publisher's recommended age of 4 to 7 as listed there, and Dragon Post is 5 to 8 at BookTrust.
- Are dragon books too scary for young children?
- It depends on the book and the child. Common Sense Media notes that the fires and horse bones in The Paper Bag Princess may upset younger children. Zog is about a dragon who wants a golden star, and in Dragons Love Tacos the fire is an accident at a party.
- Is there research on why children love dragons?
- We found none. The page says so in the first section and describes only what the four books do with the figure.
- Can the dragon in our story be a friend?
- Yes. In your idea you decide whether the dragon is shy, hungry, fierce or just lost, and where your child meets it.
Sources
- 1.Common Sense Media: The Paper Bag Princess (book review).What it confirms: Robert Munsch, illustrated by Michael Martchenko, Annick Press, 1980; age 4+, publisher's recommended age 4 to 7 as listed there; the plot and the note about fires and horse bones.
- 2.Common Sense Media: Dragons Love Tacos (book review).What it confirms: Adam Rubin and Daniel Salmieri, 2012; age 4+, publisher's recommended age 3 to 7 as listed there; the plot of the taco party.
- 3.BookTrust Bookfinder: Zog.What it confirms: Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, Alison Green Books, 2011; interest age 3+, reading age 6+; the plot.
- 4.BookTrust Bookfinder: Dragon Post.What it confirms: Emma Yarlett, Walker Books, 2018; interest age 5 to 8, reading age 6+; the plot.
- 5.Kirkus Reviews: Dragons Love Tacos.What it confirms: Dial Books, release date 14 June 2012; age range 3 to 5.
Other themes: Animals, Autumn, Dinosaurs, Rabbits, Moles, Elephants, Witches, Unicorns, Fire engines, Cats, Football, Dogs, Pirates, Space, Diggers and trucks, Forest and Hometown. Or children's books by age, growing up, topic by topic and all the illustration styles.