Reading Dragons & Friends is my favorite project. This project began in 2019 at Dover Public Library. In October 2021 I shared all of the files through Google Drive so other libraries could the Reading Dragons. I created a website in 2025 to make Reading Dragons more accessible to more people. https://www.readingdragons.org/

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What it is

This is a reading incentive program intended to gamify reading by rewarding reading with collectible cards featuring mythical creatures. Our goal was to develop a program that would increase student engagement with the library during the school year.

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How does it work?

Children receive a reading tracker, a card checklist, 3 starter cards, and instructions for 2 card games. For every 30 minutes a child reads they mark off a square on their tracker. Each square earns 1 card. The cards feature dragons, griffins, and unicorns (alicorns) in growth stages: egg, baby, teen and adult.

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Please watch the linked presentation for all of the details. > Link <  If you would like to use this program at your library please email me via your work email at mthompson @ doverlibrary.org

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OLC Presentation

Liz Strauss and I presented this program at the Ohio Library Council Convention 2021. We provided a link to all of the files so other libraries would be able to replicate and customize the program to fit the needs of their community.

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iREAD Summer Reading Collaboration

We worked with Becca Boland of iREAD and illustrator Carey Pietsch to make a special edition of the Reading Dragons for the 2025 iREAD Summer Reading Program "Level Up at Your Library".