After our son finished the Magic Tree House Books series, we needed another book collection that could hold his attention. Dragon Masters by Tracey West quickly became that series. Filled with dragons, magic, teamwork, adventure, and short chapters designed for developing readers, Dragon Masters has become one of the most popular early chapter book series available today. This guide includes the complete Dragon Masters books in order, character guide, reading level, age recommendations, latest releases, and answers to the questions parents ask most often.
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Editor’s Note (June 2026): This article was originally published in 2020 and has been updated to reflect the current Dragon Masters book order, character information, and latest releases in the series. Our family has now read many of these books multiple times with different children, making Dragon Masters one of the most successful early chapter book series we’ve encountered.
Quick Answer Box
- Author: Tracey West
- Total books: 33
- Latest published book: Defending the Swamp Dragon (Book #31)
- Upcoming releases: Heart of the Ruby Dragon (#32) and Claw of the Diamond Dragon (#33)
- Bonus books: Griffith’s Guide, Epic Guide
- Recommended age: 6-9
- Reading level: Early chapter books
- Best place to start: Rise of the Earth Dragon
What Reading Level Are Dragon Masters Books?
Dragon Masters books are generally recommended for children ages 6-9 and are considered early chapter books for developing readers. The series uses approachable vocabulary, short chapters, frequent illustrations, and fast-paced adventures that help build reading confidence. In our experience, Dragon Masters works especially well for children who enjoyed Magic Tree House and are ready for slightly more fantasy, action, and ongoing story development.
Dragon Masters Lexile Level
The Dragon Masters series generally falls around the Lexile 500L–570L range, depending on the individual title. For example, Rise of the Earth Dragon (Book #1) has a Lexile measure of 510L. While Lexile scores vary slightly from book to book, most of the series is well suited for developing readers who are transitioning into independent chapter books.
Keep in mind that a child’s interest and confidence are just as important as Lexile level. Many children enjoy Dragon Masters as read-aloud books before they are ready to read the series independently.
| Reading Measure | Dragon Masters |
|---|---|
| Recommended Age | 6–9 years |
| Grade Level | Grades 1–3 |
| Lexile Range | Approximately 500L–570L |
| AR Level | Approximately 3.0–3.5 (varies by title) |
| Book Type | Early Chapter Books |
How Many Dragon Masters Books Are There?
As of June 2026, there are 33 main Dragon Masters books, plus two companion guides:
- Griffith’s Guide for Dragon Masters
- The Epic Guide to Dragon Masters
Originally, Griffith’s Guide for Dragon Masters served as the official companion book for the series. It has since been superseded by The Epic Guide to Dragon Masters, which includes updated information covering the expanded Dragon Masters universe.
Books #32 and #33 are scheduled for release on February 2, 2027, so the series continues to grow and remains one of the largest early chapter book fantasy series for young readers.
Are more Dragon Masters books coming?
Yes. We already know book #32 and #33 are set for release February 2, 2027.
| Book | Status |
|---|---|
| Book #31 – Defending the Swamp Dragon | Released |
| Book #32 – Heart of the Ruby Dragon | Releases February 2, 2027 |
| Book #33 – Claw of the Diamond Dragon | Releases February 2, 2027 |
Tracey West has continued expanding the series for many years, and new books have been released regularly. Because of the series’ popularity, many readers expect additional adventures in the future.
If your child finishes the current books, it is worth checking for new releases since Scholastic has continued supporting the series with additional titles and special editions over time.
While nothing has been officially announced beyond the upcoming releases, it’s possible the franchise could eventually expand with additional books or spin-offs aimed at different age groups.
Dragon Masters Reading Order
The first four books are:
- Rise of the Earth Dragon
- Saving the Sun Dragon
- Secret of the Water Dragon
- Power of the Fire Dragon
Continue reading the remaining books in publication order through Book #33.
Do You Have to Read Dragon Masters in Order?
Technically no.
But I strongly recommend it.
Characters, dragons, villains, and magical abilities build from one book to the next. Reading in order allows children to watch friendships and the larger storyline develop naturally.
Dragon Masters Book Series List in Order
Many people ask how many Dragon Masters books there are in Tracey West’s series. There are a total of 33 Dragon Masters books in the series and two special edition bonus books; Griffith’s Guide for Dragon Masters and The Epic Guide to Dragon Masters for the biggest dragon fans. Books have been published regularly, so stay tuned here for the latest Dragon Masters updates and book news!
The easiest way to read Dragon Masters is in publication order. While each adventure tells its own story, important characters, dragons, villains, and magical abilities are introduced gradually throughout the series. Reading the books in order gives young readers the best experience.
- Rise of the Earth Dragon (Book #1)
- Saving the Sun Dragon (Book #2)
- Secret of the Water Dragon (Book #3)
- Power of the Fire Dragon (Book #4)
- Song of the Poison Dragon (Book #5)
- Flight of the Moon Dragon (Book #6)
- Search for the Lightning Dragon (Book #7)
- Roar of the Thunder Dragon (Book #8)
- Chill of the Ice Dragon (Book #9)
- Waking of the Rainbow Dragon (Book #10)
- Shine of the Silver Dragon (Book #11)
- Treasure of the Gold Dragon (Book #12)
- Eye of the Earthquake Dragon (Book #13)
- The Land of the Spring Dragon (Book #14)
- Future of the Time Dragon (Book #15)
- Call of the Sound Dragon (Book #16)
- Fortress of the Stone Dragon (Book #17)
- Heat of the Lava Dragon (Book #18)
- Wave of the Sea Dragon (Book #19)
- Howl of the Wind Dragon (Book #20)
- Bloom of the Flower Dragon (Book #21)
- Guarding the Invisible Dragons (Book #22)
- Curse of the Shadow Dragon (Book #23)
- Dawn of the Light Dragon (Book #24)
- Legend of the Star Dragon: A Branches Book (Book #25)
- Cave of the Crystal Dragon: A Branches Book (Book #26)
- Haunting of the Ghost Dragon
- Night of the Dream Dragon
- Magic of the Wizard Dragon
- Chaos of the Vortex Dragon
- Defending the Swamp Dragon
- Heart of the Ruby Dragon (Pre-order, releases February 2, 2027)
- Claw of the Diamond Dragon (Pre-order, releases February 2, 2027)
- The Epic Guide to Dragon Masters
- Griffith’s Guide for Dragon Masters
- Return of the Legendary Dragon: Mini-Adventure *Included with some 33-book boxed sets. Not sold separately and not considered part of the numbered reading order.
You are able to purchase a Dragon Masters Complete Series Set (33 Books) in a bundle but be warned this does not include the two newest books (Book #32 Heart of the Ruby Dragon and Book #33 Claw of the Diamond Dragon set for pre-order release February 2, 2027) nor does it include Griffith’s Guide for Dragon Masters. The Epic Guide to Dragon Masters, which is included, appears to be the more expansive companion guide replacing Griffith’s Guide.
Tip: If you’re buying the books individually, be sure to purchase them in publication order so new Dragon Masters, dragons, and villains are introduced in the intended sequence.
Dragon Masters has become one of the easiest children’s series for our family to recommend because it combines approachable reading levels with exciting fantasy adventures that keep kids engaged.
P.S. – Don’t get rid of them too soon if you have multiple kiddos. Our oldest read them all, then our middle child read a few before taking a break, and now we are re-reading them with our middle child and youngest. Phew, so glad we didn’t give them away yet!
Dragon Masters Author Tracey West
Tracey West is a bestselling children’s book author and has written more than 300 books. Her most well known series include Dragon Masters and Pixie Tricks but her total list with big name publishers is extensive. Tracey’s worked with Scholastic, Grosset & Dunlap, National Geographic Children’s Books, HarperFestival, Smithsonian Books, Price Stern Sloan, Simon Spotlight, RH Disney, and Random House (to name a few!).
Tracey West has also written books on Pokemon, Lego, Lego Ninjago, Beyblade, Yu-gi-oh, Star Wars, Bakugan, Transformers, Spongebob, The Powerpuff Girls, Teen Titans, Batman, Poptropica, Kung Fu Panda, Star Wars: the Clone Wars, and Plants vs. Zombies properties. Basically, everything kids love.
Why share all of this while you research Dragon Masters books? Because you should know the range and ability of the author you’re about to purchase from. Your family is likely familiar with one or more of those book property topics and characters, so you’ve got a pretty good idea if similar themes and concepts will come across well in your home.
Dragon Masters Book Series
Although Dragon Masters is a unique book series for kids in its own right, they capture many key elements fans of Pokemon, Lego, or Teen Titans enjoy, like quick-paced storylines, satisfying endings for the main characters, tales young kids understand, adventure, just enough peril to keep the story interesting but not scary, teamwork, and problem solving. There are also lots of illustrations to keep little ones engaged and excited while reading – which they’ll be doing a whole lot of by themselves!
There’s a big reason these books in total contain thousands and thousands of 5-star reviews and I can tell you our son flew through them like only a Dragon Master can. The only downside for us was having to wait for the newer books to be published, which thankfully, is no longer an issue for you!
For those of you wondering about reader age, we recently began re-reading the Dragon Masters series to our 5 year old son who hadn’t expressed interest when he was younger. He is now a ravenous fan!
While our 3 year old daughter did kind of enjoy them, she quickly lost interest. Ideally, children should be 5 or older to get into these books by Tracey West.
Dragon Masters: Rise of the Earth Dragon (Book #1)
Dragon Masters book #1, Rise of the Earth Dragon kicks off the entire series, and based off Amazon stats of a 5-star ranking with nearly 1,200 reviews, it does an incredible job pulling in new readers.
Rise of the Earth Dragon focuses on an 8 year old boy named Drake and his newfound friends, Ana, Bo, and Rori. All the kids have been brought to King Roland’s castle to become Dragon Masters. As fledgling Dragon Master’s-in-training, the adventurous kids will need to learn new skills to connect with, learn about, and harness exciting dragon abilities.
Each book in the series continues to deepen the plot between good and bad. Eventually, wizards and dark wizards pop up as well as good and bad dragon masters. There are many examples of good and bad teamwork that kids will enjoy reading, not to mention the occasional “I can do it myself!” mantra that, as expected, doesn’t turn out as expected.
Dragon Masters: Griffith’s Guide for Dragon Masters
A bonus book, Griffith’s Guide for Dragon Masters, was published December 3, 2019 to accompany the successful series.
Griffith’s Guide for Dragon Masters details different types of dragons over 144 colored pages. This bonus book is filled with fun facts about dragons, maps of the various worlds encountered in the book series, notes from the wizards and other historical nuggets. Unfortunately, while this book is really, really great for the first 19 books, new books keep being released which makes this anthology need updating.
Thankfully, Tracey West published The Epic Guide to Dragon Masters August 6, 2024 which includes updated information across 256 pages. It appears this book is the replacement for Griffith’s Guide as it is included in the complete bundle set mentioned above while Griffith’s Guide is not included.
Main Dragon Masters Characters
Below are the major recurring Dragon Masters characters you’ll encounter throughout the series.
| Character | Role | Dragon (or ability) | Book to Appear First |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drake George | Dragon Master | Worm – Earth Dragon | 1 |
| Ana Gamal | Dragon Master | Kepri – Sun Dragon | 1 |
| Bo Yin | Dragon Master | Shu – Water Dragon | 1 |
| Rori Smith | Dragon Master | Vulcan – Fire Dragon | 1 |
| King Roland | King of Bracken | Authority – Marries Rose | 1 |
| Griffith | Good Wizard | Magical | 1 |
| Diego | Good Wizard | Magical | 2 |
| Heru Al-Tarek | Dragon Master | Wati – Moon Dragon | 2 |
| Maldred | Bad Wizard | Magical | 2 |
| Emperor Song | Ruler of Eastern Kingdom | Authority over Bo Yin | 3 |
| Queen Rose | Queen of Arkwood | Authority – Marries Roland | 4 |
| Petra Maris | Dragon Master | Zera – Poison Dragon | 5 |
| Lalo | Dragon Master | Star – Star Dragon | 25 |
| Eko | Dragon Master | Crystal – Crystal Dragon | 26 |
One of the fun aspects of the Dragon Masters series is that new Dragon Masters and dragons are introduced throughout the books. While the table above covers the major recurring dragons, readers will encounter many additional dragons as the series grows.
Dragon Masters Character Guide
Drake
Drake is the main protagonist of the Dragon Masters series and the first character readers meet in Rise of the Earth Dragon. He forms a powerful bond with Worm, the Earth Dragon, and grows into one of the group’s most dependable leaders as the series progresses.
Ana
Ana is one of the original Dragon Masters and partners with Kepri, the Sun Dragon. She is compassionate, courageous, and often helps keep the team focused when dangerous situations arise.
Bo
Bo is paired with Shu, the Water Dragon, and is known for his intelligence and thoughtful approach to solving problems. His calm personality balances the more impulsive members of the Dragon Masters.
Rori
Rori is partnered with Vulcan, the Fire Dragon, and brings confidence and determination to every adventure. She isn’t afraid to speak her mind and quickly becomes one of the team’s strongest Dragon Masters.
Griffith
Griffith is the wise wizard who trains and guides the young Dragon Masters throughout much of the series. His knowledge of dragons and magic helps prepare the children for the increasingly difficult challenges they face.
King Roland
King Roland rules the Kingdom of Bracken and creates the Dragon Masters program to defend the realm from growing magical threats. He provides the young Dragon Masters with both leadership and opportunities to develop their unique abilities.
Maldred
Maldred is one of the primary villains in the Dragon Masters series and serves as a powerful dark wizard. His schemes frequently challenge the Dragon Masters and drive many of the series’ biggest adventures.
Diego
Diego is a friendly wizard who assists Griffith and supports the Dragon Masters on several important missions. His magical knowledge and willingness to help make him a valuable ally throughout the series.
Emperor Song
Emperor Song is the wise ruler of the Eastern Kingdom and plays an important role in Bo’s story. He values honor, responsibility, and protecting his people while supporting the Dragon Masters in their fight against evil.
Queen Rose
Queen Rose is the ruler of Arkwood and later becomes Queen of Bracken alongside King Roland. She is a courageous leader who supports the Dragon Masters and helps unite the kingdoms against growing magical threats.
Petra Maris
Petra Maris first appears in Book #5 and becomes the Dragon Master of Zera, the Poison Dragon. Brave, determined, and resourceful, Petra quickly proves herself to be a valuable addition to the Dragon Masters team during some of their most dangerous adventures.
Best Dragon Masters Books for New Readers
- Rise of the Earth Dragon (Book #1)
- Saving the Sun Dragon (Book #2)
- Secret of the Water Dragon (Book #3)
If your child reader enjoys these first three books, it’s safe to keep moving forward for more. But if they have a hard time connecting on Book #1, you may want to consider The Magic Tree House book series.
Why Dragon Masters Works So Well for Early Readers
Finding a book series that keeps young readers engaged can be surprisingly difficult. Dragon Masters succeeds because it combines approachable reading levels with exciting fantasy adventures that make children eager to keep turning pages.
Easy-to-Follow Plots
The Dragon Masters books introduce enough mystery, adventure, and excitement to keep children interested without becoming confusing. Each story has a clear objective, understandable challenges, and satisfying resolutions that help young readers follow the action from beginning to end. Even when the larger series storyline expands, individual books remain easy to understand on their own.
Short Chapters
One of the biggest advantages of Dragon Masters is the chapter length. Most chapters can be read in just a few minutes, allowing children to experience frequent feelings of accomplishment. For developing readers, finishing a chapter quickly builds confidence and encourages them to keep going.
Large Font and Reader-Friendly Layout
The books are designed specifically for children transitioning into independent reading. The larger font size, generous spacing, and manageable page count make the series feel approachable rather than intimidating. Young readers are far less likely to feel overwhelmed compared to longer middle-grade novels.
Frequent Illustrations
Illustrations appear throughout the books and help bring the dragons, characters, and magical world to life. These visual breaks maintain engagement, support comprehension, and provide encouragement for readers who are still building reading stamina.
Clear Good vs. Evil Themes
Children naturally understand and enjoy stories where heroes must overcome challenges and work together against villains. Dragon Masters presents clear conflicts between good and evil without becoming overly dark or frightening. The stakes feel important, but the stories remain age-appropriate for younger readers.
Strong Momentum
Perhaps the greatest strength of the series is its momentum. Something is almost always happening. New dragons appear, mysteries unfold, magical powers develop, and characters face fresh challenges. The fast pace helps reluctant readers stay engaged and gives enthusiastic readers plenty of reasons to pick up the next book immediately.
Together, these elements create a series that feels exciting, accessible, and rewarding. It’s one of the main reasons Dragon Masters has become such a popular choice for children moving beyond beginner readers and into their first long-running chapter book series.
Why Kids Love Dragon Masters
There is no shortage of children’s book series competing for attention, yet Dragon Masters has managed to become a favorite for countless young readers. After reading the series with multiple children in our home, it’s easy to see why the books are so appealing.
Familiar Recurring Characters
One of the biggest strengths of the series is that readers get to spend time with the same characters across dozens of adventures. Children quickly become attached to Drake, Ana, Bo, Rori, Griffith, and their dragons. As the series progresses, readers enjoy watching friendships grow, new Dragon Masters join the team, and characters develop new abilities.
Unique Dragons and Dragon Powers
Let’s be honest—dragons are cool.
For many children, dragons are enough reason alone to pick up these books. Dragon Masters features dozens of unique dragons with different personalities, appearances, and magical abilities. Each new book often introduces another fascinating dragon, giving readers something exciting to look forward to.
Magic and Adventure
Magic is woven throughout every part of the Dragon Masters world. Wizards, magical powers, enchanted objects, mysterious prophecies, and hidden abilities create a sense of wonder that keeps children engaged. The fantasy elements feel exciting without becoming too complicated for younger readers.
Teamwork and Friendship
While dragons receive much of the attention, teamwork is really at the heart of the series. The Dragon Masters rarely succeed on their own. They learn to trust one another, combine their strengths, solve problems together, and overcome challenges through cooperation. These positive themes make the books both entertaining and meaningful.
Fast-Paced Stories
Dragon Masters wastes very little time getting to the action. New dangers, discoveries, and adventures appear quickly, helping maintain momentum from chapter to chapter. This faster pace is especially appealing for children who may lose interest in slower-moving stories.
Engaging Illustrations
The illustrations scattered throughout each book help bring the characters and dragons to life. Young readers enjoy seeing their favorite dragons on the page, and the artwork helps break up longer sections of text. For developing readers, these illustrations provide both encouragement and additional context.
Collecting the Books
Once children read a few Dragon Masters books, many want to collect the entire series. Each new dragon, character, and adventure adds to the larger world, making every book feel like an important piece of the collection. The colorful covers, numbered sequence, and growing cast of dragons naturally encourage readers to keep searching for the next book.
Taken together, these elements create a series that feels exciting, approachable, and rewarding. It’s easy to understand why so many children finish one Dragon Masters book and immediately ask for the next.
Dragon Masters Frequently Asked Questions
Do Dragon Masters books need to be read in order?
Yes, I strongly recommend reading Dragon Masters in order.
While each book contains its own adventure, the larger story unfolds across multiple books. New Dragon Masters, dragons, villains, and magical abilities are introduced gradually throughout the series. Reading in order helps children understand character relationships and appreciate how the world expands over time.
The best place to start is always Rise of the Earth Dragon (Book #1).
What age are Dragon Masters books for?
Dragon Masters books are generally best suited for children ages 6–9.
The books work particularly well for emerging independent readers because they feature:
- Short chapters
- Large font
- Frequent illustrations
- Straightforward sentence structure
- Fast-paced adventures
Many parents, teachers, and librarians may also enjoy reading them aloud to younger children around ages 4–6.
Are Dragon Masters books similar to Magic Tree House?
Yes, and that is one of the reasons our family discovered them.
Both series feature short chapter books, recurring main characters, adventure-driven plots, and age-appropriate challenges for young readers. However, Dragon Masters leans more heavily into fantasy with dragons, magic, wizards, and ongoing battles between good and evil.
If your child enjoyed Magic Tree House and is ready for something slightly more action-oriented, Dragon Masters is an excellent next step.
Is Dragon Masters good for reluctant readers?
Absolutely.
One of the biggest strengths of Dragon Masters is how quickly the stories move. The books introduce action early, include plenty of illustrations, and keep chapters short enough that progress feels achievable.
Many children who struggle to stay engaged with longer novels enjoy Dragon Masters because each book provides a complete adventure while also encouraging them to continue through the larger series.
Who is the strongest Dragon Master?
That depends on how you define strength.
Drake is the central character throughout much of the series and develops powerful abilities with his Earth Dragon, Worm. However, many Dragon Masters possess unique strengths connected to their dragons’ special powers.
Part of the fun of the series is watching new Dragon Masters join the group and discovering how their abilities contribute to the team. Different readers often have different favorites.
What is Griffith’s Guide for Dragon Masters?
Griffith’s Guide for Dragon Masters is a special companion book that expands the Dragon Masters universe after the first 19 books were published.
It includes:
- Dragon information
- Character profiles
- Maps
- Wizard notes
- Background lore
- Additional details about the world of Dragon Masters
It is not required reading, but children who love the series will likely enjoy the extra information and colorful illustrations.
Keep in mind The Epic Guide to Dragon Masters (256 pages) was released much later and appears to be a replacement companion book for Griffith’s Guide (144 pages).
Dragon Masters Series Timeline
Dragon Masters has grown steadily since the first book, Rise of the Earth Dragon, with new books typically releasing every year. What began as a short fantasy chapter book series has expanded into more than thirty adventures plus companion guides.
Books Like Dragon Masters
If your child finishes Dragon Masters, these series offer similar fantasy adventures, dragons, teamwork, and age-appropriate chapter books.
- Magic Tree House – for young readers who enjoy historical adventures, mystery, and time travel.
- Kingdom of Wrenly – for dragon lovers who enjoy magical kingdoms, friendly creatures, and illustrated chapter books.
- The Last Firehawk – for readers looking for exciting fantasy adventures with brave animal heroes and fast-paced action.
- Dragon Kingdom of Wrenly – for children who can’t get enough dragons and want another easy-to-read fantasy series filled with magical creatures.
- Beast Quest – for readers ready to transition into longer fantasy adventures with more action, monsters, and epic quests.
Final Thoughts
Dragon Masters has earned a place on our bookshelf. Between the exciting dragons, approachable reading level, recurring characters, and steady stream of adventures, it has become one of the easiest book series for us to recommend to young readers.
If your child enjoys fantasy, dragons, magic, teamwork, and action-packed chapter books, Dragon Masters is an excellent next step after series like Magic Tree House. With more than 30 books available and new releases continuing to arrive, there is plenty of reading material to keep young Dragon Masters busy for quite a while.
And if your family has already discovered the series, I’d love to hear which dragon, character, or book was your favorite.
Curious what book series we moved onto next? Warrior Cats!
