Reading Dragons

reading dragons with a dragon dressed in a red cloak and flames on each side

This is a collaborative national reading program created by the Dover Public Library in Ohio that encourages children in grades K-8 to read for fun. Participants can track their reading, collect dragon trading cards, and play card games, all while learning good reading habits and gaining a lifelong love of reading!

Learn More Games
reading dragons with a dragon dressed in a red cloak and flames on each side

What is Reading Dragons?

Do you like trading cards? Do you like to play and collect them? Then Reading Dragons is for you!

This program runs during the school year, from October-May, and will pause during the summer.

Get Started
games and rules with three reading dragon cards in a row

Learn Games and Rules

Cards are changed, added, and updated from year to year making these games ever changing and fun. Collect enough cards to play Rock, Paper, Scissors, WAR! and Mythics Battle.

Some cards from previous years may be retired. Some editions have the elemental symbols, older editions do not. There is no difference between elemental and non-elemental cards in gameplay.

Cards can be traded with friends, be sure to read the trading rules!

How to Play
open play friday with image of kids laughing and four reading dragon cards

Play at the library!

Join us on the last Friday of the month to play, trade, and talk about all things Reading Dragons! We'll also have snacks, coloring, and a make-it-yourself card holder craft. Everyone is welcome to come play and learn about this exciting program.

reading dragons family pack of 4 cards

Getting Started & How Reading Dragons Works

Register with a librarian and receive your reading log.

For every one hour of reading logged, you may collect a 'family' of mythical creature trading cards. A card 'family' has 4 cards - an egg, a baby, a child, and an adult. You may collect up to four families per month. 

Bring your log into the library to be signed off by a librarian and choose your cards. You may collect, trade, and play games with your cards.

Reading Dragon Recommendations

How to Play

row of three reading dragons cards

WAR

Play this when you have several creature cards. Make sure you write your name on your cards so you can get your cards back at the end of the game. 

Mix up both player's cards and divide them evenly between both players.
Place your stack of cards face down on the table. Do not look at your cards.

Both players draw the top card on their deck and flip it over at the same time.

  • Red beats Green
  • Green beats Blue
  • Blue beats Red

If you have the same color, the oldest creature wins.
If your creatures are the same age then you go to war.

To go to war: 

  • Add two face down cards to the pile, then play one more card face up.
  • Red beats Green
  • Green beats Blue
  • Blue beats Red

If you have the same color, the oldest creature wins.
If you tie again, go to war until there is a winner.
The winner adds ALL cards played to their win pile.
Play until you run out of cards.
The player with the most cards in their win pile wins

row of three reading dragons cards and a dice

Mythics Battle

This game is for two players and requires a die. Each player needs at least three Reading Dragons cards.

Players shuffle their deck; each player puts three cards face down in front of them.

From either player's deck, put three cards face up in the middle of the two rows of face down cards. 

Players flip their cards over in a face off:

The strongest card wins based on age: Adult > Child > Baby > Egg

If cards are the same age, winner is based on creature type: Starters/Special Cards > Dragon> Griffin >Unicorn

If cards are both the same age and creature - color wins based on the WAR rules:

  • Red beats Green
  • Green beats Blue
  • Blue beats Red

If cards tie (same color, age, and creature) both players roll a die; the higher roll wins.
 

 

row of four reading dragon cards

Trading Rules

Cards may be traded with other players, but you MUST trade only WHOLE FAMILIES at a time. If you want to trade a card, you must trade with the entire card family.

The library will not replace singular cards that have been given away by trading. Make sure to mark which cards are yours and which are not after making a trade.