How to Read the Dragon Keepers Series
If you are looking to dive into the magical world of the Dragon Keepers series by Kate Klimo, the best way to experience the story is by following the original publication order. Because the narrative builds directly upon the events of previous books, jumping around will spoil key character growth, new magical discoveries, and the evolving threat of the dragon-slaying villain, St. George.
However, there is one small chronological caveat: an e-original short story titled Leandra and Obsidian was published in 2012. While it was released around the same time as the fifth book, it acts as a prequel that explains the history of Emmy's parents and the origin of a second dragon egg. Reading this short story before the fifth book, The Dragon in the Sea, provides excellent context for the main series timeline.
Dragon Keepers Books in Recommended Order
Here is the complete list of the Dragon Keepers books in the recommended reading order, combining the main novels and the essential background short story:
- The Dragon in the Sock Drawer (2008): The adventure begins when ten-year-old cousins Jesse and Daisy find a strange, warm geode that hatches into a tiny, fiery dragon named Emmy. The cousins must learn to care for Emmy in secret while keeping her safe from St. George, a member of the ancient and villainous order of dragon slayers who seek dragon blood for immortality.
- The Dragon in the Driveway (2009): Jesse and Daisy continue to raise the rapidly growing Emmy. In this second installment, the stakes rise as St. George hatches a plan to destroy a magical local forest. The children must work together with Emmy to protect the forest creatures and thwart the slayer's schemes.
- The Dragon in the Library (2010): When the cousins visit a mysterious, magical library, they discover a world of ancient lore and realize that a renowned dragon expert has been kidnapped. Jesse, Daisy, and Emmy embark on a rescue mission that takes them deep into hidden magical realms.
- The Dragon in the Volcano (2011): Emmy is entering her turbulent "tween" years, bringing a whole new set of fiery challenges for her keepers. The adventure heats up as the group travels to a volcanic realm, facing extreme environments and testing the limits of their teamwork and responsibility.
- Leandra and Obsidian (2012): This electronic-only short story is a prequel companion piece. It details the lives of Emmy's dragon parents, Leandra and Obsidian, and explains how the second dragon egg came to be. Reading this before Book 5 gives readers the perfect backstory for the next phase of the series.
- The Dragon in the Sea (2012): Jesse, Daisy, and Emmy plunge into a vibrant underwater world filled with mer-people, selkies, and hidden dangers. The group must protect a new dragon egg—the very one introduced in the backstory of Leandra and Obsidian—from falling into the hands of enemies.
- The Dragon at the North Pole (2013): The sixth and final main novel takes the cousins and Emmy on an icy quest to the top of the world. They must navigate frozen terrains, deal with arctic magic, and finally bring their epic adventures to a satisfying close.
Chronological Order vs. Publication Order
Because the main novels follow a linear progression, the chronological order is nearly identical to the publication order. The only difference is where you place the companion short story, Leandra and Obsidian. Here is how they compare:
- Publication Order: Books 1 through 5, followed by Leandra and Obsidian, and ending with Book 6.
- Chronological Order: Books 1 through 4, then the short story Leandra and Obsidian (which explains the history of the second egg), followed by Book 5 (where the egg is protected) and Book 6.
For the most rewarding reading experience, we recommend the chronological approach of inserting Leandra and Obsidian right before The Dragon in the Sea. This setup makes the events of the fifth book much more impactful and clear.
What to Know Before You Start
Kate Klimo, a former Random House Children's Books executive, drew on her own childhood memories of imagining magical creatures in the snowbanks of Iowa to write the series. She modeled the central bond between Jesse and Daisy on her childhood relationship with her best friend, Justine.
The series is specifically designed for middle-grade readers, making it a perfect transition for kids who have completed early chapter books like the Magic Tree House series but are not yet ready for the density of Harry Potter. The story strikes a balance between lighthearted humor, fast-paced action, and themes of responsibility and friendship.
Spin-Offs and Companion Reading
While the Dragon Keepers universe ends with the sixth book, fans of Kate Klimo's accessible and heartwarming writing style can explore her other works. She has written the highly popular Dog Diaries series, which tells stories from the perspective of historic and famous dogs, as well as the Centauriad young adult fantasy series, starting with Daughter of the Centaurs. These books carry over the same imaginative world-building and strong animal-human bonds that make Dragon Keepers so special.