With magical prose and a fun cast of quirky characters, middle-grade readers are sure to be swept away by this heartfelt adventure story.
The Last Ember by Lily Berlin Dodd, (List Price: $19.99, Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR), 9780374393120, November 2025)
Reviewed by Cindy Otis, The Stacks Bookstore in Savannah, Georgia
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Absolutely loved this. What a great twist for readers who love dragons but are moving on to books with heavier themes and twists. Loved the strong female lead and the perfect balance of being the new girl and learning about yourself. Honestly, probably a great read for friends who loved KPop demon hunters (I can’t think of higher praise than that!). Female lead, family secrets, welcoming the darkness within.
Dragonborn by Struan Murray, (List Price: $19.99, Dutton Books for Young Readers, 9798217113217, October 2025)
Reviewed by Stacey Sanford, Square Books in Oxford, Mississippi
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This book is one of the most wholesome I’ve ever read. Reading it is like being wrapped in a blanket. Adorable art, whimsical writing, and a sweet story make for a cute & comforting read about friendship and finding your niche. I try to read this book AT LEAST once a year because of how heartwarming it is.
The Tea Dragon Society by K.O’Neill, (List Price: $9.99, Oni Press, 9781620107379, June 2020)
Reviewed by Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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Rene and Glumfoot have a fine dining establishment in an enchanted wooded area. An ogre comes for a meal, and they get more than they bargained for. Teamwork saves the day! If you like books about ogres, this book has it all!
The Café at the Edge of the Woods by Mikey Please, (List Price: $19.99, HarperCollins, 9780063345492, October 2024)
Reviewed by Sheri Bancroft, Novel. in Memphis, Tennessee
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I want to crawl inside this book, eat LOTS of bread, curl up with a dragon next to a cheerful fireplace, and take a long nap. Devin Elle Kurtz’s glowing illustrations and cozy, atmospheric storytelling make The Bakery Dragon an instant cold-weather classic.
The Bakery Dragon by Devin Elle Kurtz, (List Price: $18.99, Knopf Books for Young Readers, 9780593710968, October 2024)
Reviewed by Talia Smart, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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Those etchings you see on frozen windows, that’s frostfire — snow dragon breath — you know. Of course they live in snowbanks and happily dine on pinecones, and if you’re quiet and if you believe, maybe you’ll see one. I am absolutely in LOVE with this magical snowy title, and if you believe, maybe you should invite a snow dragon onto your bookshelf.
Frostfire by Elly MacKay, (List Price: $18.99, Tundra Books, 9780735266988, October 2024)
Reviewed by Angie Tally, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina
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I picked up this book based purely on the gorgeous cover. The lyrical story told by the mother to the child at bedtime is just so sweet, and each page is full of beautiful detail. I really loved how the differences between the two dragons are celebrated, but their similarities are also highlighted. An enriching celebration of multicultural identity.
The Truth About Dragons by Julie Leung, (List Price: 18.99, Henry Holt and Co. (BYR), 9781250820587, August 2023)
Reviewed by Chelsea Stringfield, Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee
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"The illustrations for Knight Owl posed an interesting challenge. Most of the book takes place at night. How could I make the illustrations using a color pallet varied enough so that each scene could have the right feeling and not feel too dark? I took that challenge as an opportunity to dive deep into my fascination with Japanese woodblock prints, specifically the work of Hiroshi Yoshida (1876-1950) one of the greatest artists of the shin-hanga style. Yoshida’s work, along with a few nods to Rembrandt and Vermeer, defined the palette for the entire project. The range of blue tones in Yoshida’s work is amazing! "–Christopher Denise (via School Library Journal Blog)
What booksellers are saying about Knight Owl
About Christopher Denise
Christopher Denise spent much of his childhood in Shannon, Ireland, exploring castles and dreaming of great adventures. He is the illustrator of many critically acclaimed books for young readers, including Anika Aldamuy Denise’s Bunny in the Middle, Alison McGhee’s Firefly Hollow, Rosemary Wells’s Following Grandfather, and Anne Marie Pace’s Groundhug Day, as well as several in Brian Jacques’s award-winning Redwall series. His books have appeared on the Indie Next List and the New York Times bestseller list and in the Society of Illustrators’ Annual Exhibition. Knight Owl marks his author-illustrator debut. Christopher’s current adventures include exploring coastal Rhode Island, where he lives with his family.
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Lovers of books and dragons will rejoice at this imaginative tale of how dragons learned to breathe fire.
Once Upon a Dragon’s Fire by Beatrice Blue (List Price: $17.99, Clarion Books, 9780358272427, 3/2/2021)
Reviewed by Jill Hendrix, Fiction Addiction in Greenville, South Carolina
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