All 32 Dragon Masters Books in Order (2026 List)

Your child finishes Rise of the Earth Dragon on the couch and asks for "the next dragon one" before you have closed the cover. Then you search "Dragon Masters books" and find more than thirty titles, two guidebooks, and a book that is not out yet. This guide puts all the Dragon Masters books in order, answers "how many Dragon Masters books are there?" as of October 2026, and ends with books like Dragon Masters for the day your child runs out.

How many Dragon Masters books are there?

Thirty-two numbered Dragon Masters books are out as of October 2026. Tracey West writes every one, and Scholastic publishes them in Branches, its line of early chapter books for "newly independent readers," as the Scholastic Dragon Masters page puts it.

Book 1, Rise of the Earth Dragon, came out in 2014. Book 31, Defending the Swamp Dragon, followed in May 2026, and book 32, Heart of the Ruby Dragon, is the newest, released in August 2026.

The next Dragon Masters books

The next book is Claw of the Diamond Dragon, book 33, listed by Bookroo for February 2, 2027, with art by Matt Loveridge. Scholastic's series page also mentions World of the Winter Dragon as book 35, with no date given yet.

Two guidebooks sit beside the numbered books. Griffith's Guide for Dragon Masters (December 2019) is a 144-page guide with maps and profiles of each dragon, and The Epic Guide to Dragon Masters is a 256-page guide in full color. Neither one is a story, so neither one has a number.

All 32 Dragon Masters books in order

The Dragon Masters books in order follow the numbers on the spines. Titles and numbers below come from Tracey West's series page, years from Bookroo's Dragon Masters series list, and the Lexile measures from Scholastic's Branches leveling chart.

The series runs at two or three books a year. A box set bought a few years ago is often several books short, so count against this table before you buy.

Who illustrated the Dragon Masters books

Graham Howells drew book 1 and many later books, among them 4, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30 and 32. Damien Jones drew most of books 2 to 10, and Matt Loveridge drew 14, 16, 17, 19, 22, 24, 28 and 31. Nina de Polonia (9 and 11), Sara Foresti (12) and Daniel Griffo (13 and 15) drew the rest, per the author's site.

The look shifts a little from artist to artist, and children seldom mind. All of the numbered books use black-and-white art.

Do you have to read Dragon Masters in order?

Reading Dragon Masters in order is the best plan, though a child can enjoy any single book. Each book is a full adventure with a clear ending, and Common Sense Media notes that the conflicts "wrap up nicely with each story."

The order matters because the cast grows. The series rests on one rule. In the words of Tracey West's site, "If you are eight years old, you can be chosen by the magical Dragon Stone to be paired with a dragon." Drake, a farm boy, is chosen and names his Earth Dragon Worm, and new Dragon Masters and their dragons join him book by book.

Story arcs that run across several books

Some stories spread over a run of books. In book 32, the evil fairy queen Agrona captures King Roland, Queen Rose and their new baby, and the Dragon Masters need three magical dragon gems to stop her; in book 33, Scholastic says, the heroes go after the next gem they need. Common Sense Media adds that each book ends with a teaser for the next one, which keeps kids reading.

A child who starts in the middle can still follow along. If your library only has book 12, read it, then go back to book 1.

What age are Dragon Masters books for?

Scholastic lists the Dragon Masters books for ages 6 to 8, and Common Sense Media rates the series 6+. Apple Books lists book 31 for newly independent readers in grades 1 to 3.

The reading level stays steady across the series. Scholastic's leveling chart puts books 1 to 32 between 490L and 600L, at guided reading levels N to P, with about 6,000 words per book.

Is Dragon Masters too scary for a six-year-old?

Dragon Masters is mild for most six-year-olds. Common Sense Media says the stories put kids in danger, "but it's all age appropriate," and that the battles "will captivate young readers, not make them anxious."

The same review rates positive messages and role models high, pointing to the friendships between the young Dragon Masters and their dragons. If your child is new to villains, read the first book aloud together and watch how they take it. For gentler picks at this age, see our books for 6-year-olds.

How to start a new reader on Dragon Masters, step by step

A child moving up from leveled readers can finish a Dragon Masters book in a week with a little help.

1. Start with book 1. Rise of the Earth Dragon introduces Drake, Worm and the Dragon Stone. Every later book assumes your child knows them.
2. Read the first chapter aloud. Your voice carries the new names and the castle setting. Once your child is hooked, hand the book over.
3. Use the pictures. Scholastic puts art on every page of every book, so a child who stalls on a word can check the picture for a clue.
4. Set a small daily goal. One or two chapters a day finishes a 96-page book in about a week. Short wins build stamina for longer books.
5. Talk about the dragons. Ask which dragon your child would pick and what power it has. A child who talks about the story remembers more of it.
6. Line up the next book early. Each book ends with a hint of the next. Have it ready, or put it on hold at the library before the last chapter.

Try itCreate a personalized storybookYour child's name and photo, a story in minutes

The part parents get wrong

A few slips cost a new reader the fun of the series.

• Mistake: buying the box set first. A full set is a big bet on one book your child has not tried. Borrow book 1 first; if it lands, 31 more are waiting.
• Mistake: starting in the middle on purpose. A random number works, but book 1 explains the Dragon Stone and Worm. Start there when you can.
• Mistake: counting the guidebooks as stories. Griffith's Guide and The Epic Guide are reference books. Keep them for a child who already loves the series.
• Mistake: stopping read-alouds too soon. Many kids still like to hear a chapter at bedtime once they read alone. Our guide to early reader books explains how to mix the two.

Books like Dragon Masters: what to read next

Books like Dragon Masters are easy to find, because Scholastic's Branches line holds 23 series in the same early chapter book format. The line page splits them into 96-page books with black-and-white art, like Dragon Masters, and 80-page books in full color.

Outside Branches, the Magic Tree House books in order are a natural next long series at a similar level. For more picks by age, see our books for 7-year-olds.

Bigger dragon books for later

A child who outgrows Dragon Masters can move on to longer dragon stories written for older readers. The Wings of Fire books in order are the obvious step up, and our list of dragon fantasy books for kids has more options by age.

On nights when nobody wants a long chapter, a short dragon bedtime story keeps the dragon theme going.

Your Dragon Masters reading checklist

• Confirm the count. Thirty-two books are out as of October 2026; book 33 is listed for February 2027.
• Start at book 1. Rise of the Earth Dragon sets up Drake, Worm and the Dragon Stone.
• Check the fit. Ages 6 to 8, 490L to 600L, art on every page.
• Read chapter one together. Then let your child take over.
• Plan the next series. A Branches series now, Wings of Fire in a few years.

A child who loves Drake and Worm can also ride a dragon in a story of their own. KidTeller turns your child's photo into the illustrated hero of a new book, written from a theme like Adventure or Friendship or from your own idea, such as a dragon egg that hatches in the backyard. The story is tuned for ages 3 to 7 or 8 and up, and you can hear it read in a natural voice or in your own cloned voice.