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Fantastic Dragon Books to Read with Toddlers and Preschoolers

Dive into the mystical realm of dragons with our handpicked collection of dragon books, ideal for toddlers and preschoolers. From the vibrant celebrations of Chinese New Year to the brave tales of Saint George, these stories span cultures and ignite young imaginations. Join us on a fantastical journey through diverse and captivating dragon tales, perfect for shared reading and discovery.

A bright and colourful Chinese Dragon statue against a bright blue sky.

Dragon Books for Toddlers and Preschoolers

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I’ve tried to split this list up into different sections so that you can pick general dragon books as well as more specifically focused on different dragons that relate to celebrations and festivals in the year.

A young boy reading from a book, in the shadows you can see a dragon and knight fighting behind him. The text overlay reads Dragon Books for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Chinese New Year Dragons Books for Kids

Dragons feature in Chinese Mythology and form part of the Chinese New Year celebrations and is one of the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac and 2024 Lunar New Year will be the Year of the Dragon. For more books about the Chinese New Year check out our Best Books about the Chinese New Year for Toddlers and Preschoolers.

Dragon Dance: A Chinese New Year

In Dragon Dance: A Chinese New Year Lift-the-Flap Book by Joan Holub lots of the traditions associated with the Chinese New Year are featured including the impressive Dragon Dance. I love the lift the flaps in this book and the way that it introduces the culture and customs through a story.

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Dragon Dance: A Chinese New Year Lift-the-Flap Book (Puffin Lift-the-Flap)
  • Holub, Joan (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 16 Pages – 12/29/2003 (Publication Date) – Puffin Books (Publisher)

Chesea’s Chinese New Year

In Chelseas Chinese New Year by Lisa Bullard Chelsea’s family is celebrating Chinese New Year and in the book she learns about the fancy dragon dances throughout the streets. This is a non-fiction storybook so although the character of Chelsea is fictional and her journey through the celebrations is full of facts that can help you talk about a different culture.

Chelsea’s Chinese New Year (Cloverleaf Books ™ ― Holidays and Special Days)
  • Bullard, Lisa (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 24 Pages – 01/01/2012 (Publication Date) – Millbrook Press ™ (Publisher)

The Day the Dragon Danced

In The Day the Dragon Danced by Kay Haugaard through a tale of a little girl watching the Chinese Lunar Year parade and the Dragon Dance we learn a little more about the culture of the dance and those of Chinese New Year too.

The Day the Dragon Danced: Childrens book, Bedtime stories, Picture book about Chinese New Year
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Haugaard, Kay (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 32 Pages – 01/29/2014 (Publication Date) – Shen’s Books (Publisher)

Red is a Dragon

Using the Chinese Dragon as inspiration in Red is a Dragon is a great way to explore colours through dragons and the Chinese New Year and Chinese Culture.

Red Is a Dragon: A Book of Colors
  • Thong, Roseanne (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 40 Pages – 05/15/2008 (Publication Date) – Chronicle Books (Publisher)

St George and the Dragon Books

As I am English and our patron saint is St George I grew up listening to stories about St George and the Dragon every April. How he fought the dragon and won. With my children I wanted them to learn a little about the story as well before they started school so we picked up a couple of books to read together from the library to learn a little more of the story of St George and the Dragon.

Saint George and the Dragon

In this retelling of the tale of the Red Cross Knight and the Dragon from Stories of the Faerie Queen Margaret Hodges and Trina Schart Hyman produce a beautifully illustrated book in Saint George and the Dragon. This version of the two is one that I have brought and added to our collection as I loved the illustrations so much.

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Saint George and the Dragon (Caldecott Medal Winner)
  • Saint George and the Dragon
  • Margaret Hodges (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 32 Pages – 09/04/1990 (Publication Date) – Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (Publisher)

Brilliant Dragon and Knight Books for Reading Aloud

Dragons have a pretty bad reputation – they were generally the bad guys stealing the princess, terrorising the kingdom and burning their way through the lands. So they became quickly associated with knights of old that wearing their armour like St George above would fight the dragons and free the princess, rid the land of them and live happily ever after. Not all stories though are about the fierce dragons and this mix of tales and stories contains some shy, friendly and less than fierce dragons.

The Knight and The dragon

When neither the dragon is fierce nor the knight is brave you have some fun and in The Knight and the Dragon by Tomie De Paola which has been one of our featured books on The Virtual Book Club for Kids you find out what happens when these two go against each other in battle.

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The Knight and the Dragon (Paperstar Book)
  • Used Book in Good Condition
  • dePaola, Tomie (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 32 Pages – 02/02/1998 (Publication Date) – Puffin Books (Publisher)

King Jack and the dragon

King, Knights and Dragons are featured in this fun tale by Peter Bently and Helen Oxenbury – King Jack and the Dragon. In this book which shows the extent of children’s imagination and then turns how their play can lead to being scared when it comes to bedtime. It both tells tales of dragons and brave dragon slayers as well as a comforting bedtime tale for little knights that at the end of the day may not be up for slaying the same dragons they fought in the light.

King Jack and the Dragon
  • Hardcover Book
  • Peter Bently (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 32 Pages – 08/18/2011 (Publication Date) – Dial Books (Publisher)

There was an old dragon who swallowed a knight

Do your kids love the Rhyme There was an Old Lady Who… then they will also love There Was an Old Dragon Who Swallowed a Knight with bright colourful illustrations and fantastic rhymes it is a fun book to read to preschoolers who will laugh as the dragon swallows basically the whole Kingdom

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There Was an Old Dragon Who Swallowed a Knight
  • Hardcover Book
  • Klostermann, Penny Parker (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 40 Pages – 08/04/2015 (Publication Date) – Random House Books for Young Readers (Publisher)

Kenny & The Dragon

What happens when you are friends wth both a Knight and a dragon well Kenny the rabbit is just that and in Kenny & the Dragon his two best friends go into battle but neither really wants to fight, but you know that dragons and knights have to fight! Read the book together with your little ones and discover how Kenny helps his two friends overcome this problem.

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Kenny & the Dragon
  • Used Book in Good Condition
  • DiTerlizzi, Tony (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 176 Pages – 01/24/2012 (Publication Date) – Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (Publisher)

Dragon was Terrible

We all know that dragons are terrible right – well the dragon in Dragon was Terrible is by far the worst. The things he gets up to will shock and astound you from burping in church to scribbling on the books. Everyone in the kingdom tries to sort him out – but well you have to read it to find out what happens but as books go it had my eldest on the burping because we know that all boys love when the stories include bodily functions (and my daughter thought it was worth a giggle or two as well).

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Dragon Was Terrible
  • Hardcover Book
  • DiPucchio, Kelly (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 40 Pages – 08/23/2016 (Publication Date) – Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) (Publisher)

Fun Dragon Books to Read together

Collage of some of the covers of the fantastic Dragon books for toddlers and preschoolers featured on Rainy Day Mum. The text in the centre reads Dragon Books for Toddlers and Preschoolers.

As well as the more traditional dragon books featured above for Chinese New Year, St George’s Day and with those Knights there are lots of books that just have dragons because they are such a fun theme for toddlers and preschoolers. Check out our favourites below.

Dragons Love Tacos

My daughter’s favourite dragon book is Dragons Love Tacos because so does she. We’re lucky though that unlike the dragons in the book spicy salsa doesn’t effect my daughter! This is such a fun book for toddlers and preschoolers with friendly funny dragons inside as well. Check out our Dragons Love Tacos Free Printable Game to play alongside this book.

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Dragons Love Tacos
  • Hardcover Book
  • Adam Rubin (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 40 Pages – 06/14/2012 (Publication Date) – Dial Books (Publisher)

Puff the Magic Dragon

My absolute favourite of the tales featured and probably why we have more than one copy as well as the CD with the song on is Puff, the Magic Dragon. I love the tale and although it is sad as childhood passes by the end we are reminded that what once a childhood vision of us becomes that of our own children. I would recommend this as a keepsake book to read together and listen to the music.

Puff, the Magic Dragon
  • The CD Includes the Title Track and Several Other Songs
  • The Only Picture Book Adaptation of the Song
  • Includes a Cloth Case and Embossed Jacket
  • Publisher: Music Sales America, 24 Pages
  • Hardcover Book

There’s no such thing as a dragon

No matter how many times you tell me I refuse to believe that there’s no such thing as dragons and I’m pretty glad that we picked up the book There’s No Such Thing as a Dragon when my kids were young. This is a fun story to read together and made us all smile especially when it became pretty obvious that there was indeed a dragon.

There’s No Such Thing as a Dragon
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 32 Pages – 09/08/2009 (Publication Date) – Dragonfly Books (Publisher)

the angry dragon


Dragons are fierce and dragons are angry, RIGHT! But in The Angry Dragon the little friend of the dragon a boy teaches him that being angry isn’t the way to go. This book is great to read together either for the theme of dragons or when talking about emotions and feelings with toddlers and preschoolers.

The Angry Dragon
  • Gordon, Michael (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 30 Pages – 05/26/2023 (Publication Date) – Kids Book Press (Publisher)

Good Night Little Dragons

For your little dragon lovers Good Night, Little Dragons is a lovely little book that will help encourage bedtimes. With little dragons brushing their fangs and taking a bath it’s easy for toddlers and preschoolers to relate to these common habits and may even encourage them to follow in their footprints.

Good Night, Little Dragons (Little Golden Book)
  • Hardcover Book
  • Tyson, Leigh Ann (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 24 Pages – 01/10/2012 (Publication Date) – Golden Books (Publisher)

How to Dress a dragon

If you’ve ever had the getting dressed battle with your toddlers and preschoolers then you will laugh along with How to Dress a Dragon as the little boy in the story tries to dress a dragon and finds all sorts of things difficult to do but overcomes them with ideas like Tickles and chases… All sounds a little too familiar to me but a lot of fun to read together.

How to Dress a Dragon
  • Hardcover Book
  • Godin, Thelma Lynne (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 40 Pages – 01/26/2016 (Publication Date) – Scholastic Press (Publisher)

Dragon Hiccups

This book based on the popular Nickelodeon series Wallykazam and matches up with one of the episodes Dragon Hiccups Wallykazam! In which Norvil the dragon has the hiccups and together they try and find a cure for them. In the episode of the same name they focus on a specific letter “m” in this case and this would be an ideal opportunity to expand on that work on some alphabet and phonics work with your toddlers and preschoolers.

Dragon Hiccups (Wallykazam!) (Little Golden Book)
  • Hardcover Book
  • Depken, Kristen L. (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 24 Pages – 07/28/2015 (Publication Date) – Golden Books (Publisher)

Not Your Typical Dragon

There’s another not so scary dragon in Not Your Typical Dragon in fact he’s trying to become more scary and breath fire like all of the other dragons – but he’s not very good at it. In fact he’s muddled up and breathes teddy bears and whipped cream. My kids loved this and laughed along with the tale of this funny little dragon.

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Not Your Typical Dragon
  • Used Book in Good Condition
  • Hardcover Book
  • Bar-el, Dan (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 40 Pages – 02/07/2013 (Publication Date) – Viking Books for Young Readers (Publisher)

One Little Dragon

In this rhyming book, One Little Dragon find out how Drake the Dragon can overcome his fear of making friends. A sweet little book to read together and would be perfect for the start of a new school year or reading aloud to your own child if they are off to experience something new.

Children Bedtime story picture book for Kids: One Little Dragon, Not all Friends Must be the Same.
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Yu, Michael (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 48 Pages – 01/12/2014 (Publication Date) – Fat Moon Books (Publisher)

More Themed Books for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Fun fiction and non-fiction garden book ideas for reading along with toddlers and preschoolers in spring and summer or as part of a plant or garden unit.
A fun selection of Frog Books ideal for toddlers & preschoolers including our favorites with bright pictures & fantastic rhymes perfect for Spring Reading
Explore under the sea with your toddlers and preschoolers as a marine biologist and teachers shares her favourite ocean books to read together.
Get your budding Paleontologist reading with these roaring good reads Dinosaur Books for toddlers and preschoolers - featuring fiction and non-fiction.
A collage with a little boy reading a book about knights and dragons at the top and covers of some fantastic dragon books below. Text in the centre reads Dragon Books for Toddlers and Preschoolers
Author
Cerys Parker

Cerys is a marine biologist, environmental educator, teacher, mum, and home educator from the UK. She loves getting creative, whether it is with simple and easy crafts and ideas, activities to make learning fun, or delicious recipes that you and your kids can cook together you'll find them all shared here on Rainy Day Mum.

7 Comments

  1. ooooh i didn’t know you could get “That not my dragon”. We have a whole bunch on the other “thats not my …” collection.

  2. What a fabulous idea. I will definately do this when I have little ones someday. I love the illustrations for “Thats not my dragon”. What age group would it be suitable for? Thanks for the great reccomendations, will keep them in mind! Jen@madeinminch

    1. Hi, Thats not my dragon is suitable from birth till 2 I would say although J at 2 and a half still picks them up occasionally it is more a book that T enjoys

  3. Thanks for the great idea. As my husband is Welsh, I think this is a great way to honour my son’s heritage. Happy St. David’s Day.

  4. Kim @ Little Stories says:

    I love that you collect these books by theme. I bet you find by the end of the week your child is really able to share concepts they’ve learned about that theme. I can’t wait wait to hear what J has to say about the dragons. Do you read one each day or all of them everyday? Where do you find the books, the library or you own them? Since you are considering a toy rotation, you could certainly have an area of your rotation that is theme related, huh?

    I guess you can tell I’m pretty excited for this idea. I need to start doing this with my own little one! Thanks for more great ideas and Happy St. David’s Day!

    1. Hi Kim, J loves having themed books each week – we read the 5 of them every day and others that he picks up but always the 5, sometimes it will be in our quiet time, others will be whilst he’s on the potty, or before bed, anytime basically throughout the day. By the end of the week he is able to retell the story either by looking at the pages and pictures or with prompts. He loves the range of words and rhythum that there is. It’s amazing what he picks up from reading as well and remembers. The books are a combination of our own, the library and ones that I buy in addition. Most of the books that I am buying now and finding in charity shops and library stock sales are picture books and suitable for up to 5 or 6 year olds before chapter books so with T and J reading them they will be well read.

      The Imagination Tree has information about how 5 books a day supports early literacy – I love different ways to incorporate literacy, numeracy and language development into fun and different ideas.

      My Mum suggested the toy rotation based on the theme as well – this week we could have dinosaurs as those are the nearest to dragons that we have in our toy collections at the moment but the imagination would flow with them.

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