A Book Dragon New Year

The new year is upon us!

Dragons big and small spend the day before the new year baking and cooking yummy treats (or shopping for them, if making things themselves is not their style). Most manage to keep their pile of books to be read untouched for the day—but a sneak peek is almost inevitable, while brownies bake or wakeful potions brew. Sometimes whole books are read on accident…oops!

As evening settles in—a chilly affair, this winter, but beautiful in the way all evenings are, purple and velvety and comforting—book dragons meet up with their friends and family, exchanging treats and books as they head up to the hills for the night’s activities. There are boulders there—purple and blue and rounded like a dragon’s egg—that are the perfect spot for firework watching at midnight.

Many dragons settle into books right away. They have hours until the main event, and they use the time wisely: reading! There is the soft glow of lanterns and candlelight all around, piles of soft blankets to cozy into, and the wafting scent of cookies, cocoa, and all other sorts of new year goodies. Some book dragons chat about the books they finished this morning while baking; others give back books they borrowed and get thoroughly absorbed in discussing it. Little dragonlings fly off some of their energy before settling in for storytime: stories of daring adventurers and new horizons, of little dragons who collect colorful hoards or ogres who grow beautiful gardens. The littlest dragonlings keep their eyes open as long as they can before snuggling deep into the blankets and falling asleep.

The night settles in like the coziest blanket. The sky fills with stars. Despite the cold, the book dragons feel warm and happy as they wait for the year to change.

And then, sooner than they think, it’s time.

A few dragons set down their books and go to light the fireworks. And what a show they put on! Sparkling, soaring, shimmering streams of light fill the sky. The book dragons set down their books and nudge the little ones awake to watch the spectacle. Well, mostly. One or two glance at the sky, and a few can’t even tear their noses from their books if they wanted to. Books are just like that sometimes. But the show goes on—fireworks in every color, shaped like stars and diamonds and simply magical.

When they’ve had their fill of fireworks (and applauded the dragons who planned it all, of course, because book dragons are a very polite and gracious sort), they break out their cups and glasses and bottles of sparkling cider and cheer each other—to their health! To the new year! To finding joy in all the little things! To happy times and many (many) good books!

Book dragons gather up their dishes, their leftover treats, their bundles of dragonlings sleeping in blankets, their piles of books, their bags and bobs and whatever else they may have brought along and mosey back home. You can hear their calls of “good night!” and “sweet dreams!” and “happy new year!” for many long happy moments. Friends hug and grannies kiss cheeks and everyone says goodbye—the first goodbye of another wonderful year.

And when they safely arrive at home, books dragons tuck into bed, into piles of duvets and knitted blankets and the softest feather pillows, and finally—finally—sleep. Some dream of fireworks, and others dream of yummy treats, but mostly…

…they dream of books.

Happy New Year!