Move over bookworms. In 2025 we are raising book dragons!

A book dragon is a magical creature disguised as a child. Instead of gold or jewels, their treasure is books. Hoards show up in backpacks, under pillows, littered across the minivan, and stacked in every corner of the house. Once you’ve met one, you’ll recognize the signs right away.

Sign #1: The Hoard Begins

 It usually starts with a small pile under the bed, then a stack of library books that somehow always end up overdue, and maybe a comic or two hidden in a backpack. Before long, the hoard has spread to nightstands, car seats, and even the bathroom counter. Try removing one, and you’ll quickly find that a dragon notices when even a single title goes missing.

Sign #2: Traveling is…Complicated

Leaving the house without books is unthinkable. A dragon insists on packing several: one for the trip there, one for the ride home, and a backup for emergencies. Even a quick ten-minute drive requires options, and somehow every book feels necessary. An overnight trip could mean an entire bag just for books. Do not try to reason with a book dragon.

Sign #3: Sleep? What Sleep?

 Bedtime never really stops a dragon. You tuck them in, kiss them goodnight, and turn out the light. A few minutes later, the quiet rustle of pages or the glow of a flashlight under the covers gives them away. Late-night reading feasts are part of their nature.

Sign #4: Books Become the Security Blanket

 Stories become the comfort they carry everywhere. A dragon may fall asleep with a paperback on their chest, tuck one into a grocery bag, or sneak one into a restaurant. Sometimes they even read while standing in line, completely lost in their world.

Sign #5: Dinners are now Book Club Meetings

 Dragons share their stories with everyone around them. Dinner conversations turn into detailed plot recaps. Stuffed animals act out favorite scenes. Characters become so real they’re talked about like close friends. Before long, you feel as if an extra set of family members has moved into your house.

Sign #6: Book Grief Is Real

 Is your dragon a little sad and mopey? The few days after a particularly perfect story creates a loss and a longing known as book grief. Book grief is a good sign and means that the dragon was deeply impacted by the characters. Don’t worry…it will pass, and the dragon will be swiftly on to the next treasure. If it lingers, try laying some books out on the tables to remind them of all the stories they haven’t yet read.

Want a book dragon of your own?

Begin with a basket of books left temptingly in plain sight, then add a cozy nook piled high with blankets and pillows for curling up. Blanket forts make excellent lairs for book dragons. Slip in a trusty flashlight for secret late-night reading feasts, and make sure a library card is always close at hand, since no dragon can resist the promise of endless treasure. Scatter a few favorite snacks nearby for fuel, and most importantly, let the bigger dragons in the house be seen reading too. With all these pieces in place, don’t be surprised when a little dragon claims the spot as their lair and begins guarding their growing hoard of stories.

Just be warned…once a book dragon moves in, the hoard will multiply faster than you can find shelf space.