Dragons are coming to Lexington?!
Watch our introductory video [YouTube] or read on to find out more.
This summer, kids and teens entering Kindergarten through 12th grade can collect dragon trading cards and train their dragons by reading every day. Time spent reading helps your dragons evolve as your mind expands. Fiction or nonfiction, comics, magazines, audiobooks, e-books—any format or language—it’s all reading! For best results, read for at least 15 minutes each day.
Visit the library to register as an Apprentice Dragon Trainer, pick up your Training Log, and choose your first three dragon eggs starting Saturday, June 13.
Training season (that means reading) starts Sunday, June 21 and ends Saturday, August 29.
The last day to collect dragons is Saturday, September 5.
Tracking your dragon training
Mark the appropriate square on your training log for each day you read, then bring your log to the library to collect your dragons!
When do I earn more dragons?
Dragons evolve in four stages: egg, baby, teen, and adult. For every two days of reading, you’ll earn a new dragon card. With each new card, you can choose to evolve a dragon to its next stage or choose a new egg to raise.
Level up faster by maintaining a streak! Read for 7 days in a row to earn a bonus card. Read every single day from June 21 to August 29 to complete the set and unlock a special bonus dragon!
Test your dragons against others.
Ask a friend to play. You each choose one card from your collection, keeping it hidden so your opponent can’t see. Then count to 3 and flip your cards to see who wins!
- Fire beats Leaf
- Leaf beats Water
- Water beats Fire
If you both chose the same element, the more evolved dragon wins.
When you register as an apprentice, you’ll choose one egg from each element to start your brood, so you can start to play right away! The more you read, the more you’ll expand your collection.
Recommended Reading for Kids
- Staff Favorites for Rising Kindergarteners and 1st Graders Video [YouTube]
- Staff Favorites for Rising 2nd and 3rd Graders Video [YouTube]
- Staff Favorites for Rising 4th and 5th Graders Video [YouTube]
- Early Readers and Picture Books List [PDF]
- Early Chapter Books List [PDF]
- Nonfiction for Younger Readers List [PDF]
- Middle Grade Chapter Books List [PDF]
- Nonfiction for Older Readers List [PDF]
Recommended Reading for Teens
- Staff Favorites for Rising 6th Graders Video [YouTube]
- Rising 6th Grade Recommendations [PDF]
- LHS-English 2026 Summer Reading [PDF]
Reading Dragons & Friends was created by the Dover Public Library in Dover, Ohio and is sponsored by the Friends of Cary Library.
