Families who loved The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart by Stephanie Burgis often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your child is facing a major life transition, such as moving to a new school or starting a challenging new hobby, and needs to see that their inner strength can adapt to any shape. This enchanting middle grade novel follows Aventurine, a fierce young dragon who is magically transformed into a human girl. Stripped of her scales and fire, she must navigate a world that sees her as weak, eventually finding her true calling in the art of chocolate-making. At its heart, this is a story about identity and agency. It explores the idea that our 'fire' comes from our passions rather than our physical appearance. It is a warm, safe, and humorous read for ages 8 to 12. Parents will appreciate how it validates the struggle of being a 'fish out of water' while celebrating the resilience required to build a chosen family and a career on one's own terms.
