A Friend for Dragon

Dav Pilkey's lonely blue dragon befriends an apple — after a snake tricks him into thinking it wants company — and what follows is a genuinely sweet story about friendship, loss, and the quiet hope that comes when something new grows where something beloved was lost. The humor is warm rather than silly, Dragon is impossible not to root for, and the ending threads grief and renewal together in a way that feels honest without being heavy. Publishers Weekly gave it a starred review for good reason, and Kirkus called it warmhearted. The one caveat worth naming: the apple's fate may catch sensitive younger readers off guard and merits a brief heads-up from caregivers. As a starting point for early chapter books, this is about as good as the genre gets.