Earn Trading Cards & Battle Your Friends
Reading Dragons & Friends are collectible playable cards featuring mythical creatures like dragons, unicorns, griffins and more. It is a fun way to motivate kids and teens to build positive reading habits.
To receive a starter pack of cards and a Summer Reading Prize Tracker, join us at a Summer Reading Kick-Off Party between June 1-6 at your favorite Jacksonville Public Library location or talk to a librarian on your next visit (any time after June 1). Then, start reading!
You can earn additional sets of cards every week starting June 8 (through August 1).
How to Play
The Starter Set
Everyone starts with three cards: one Earth (Green), one Water (Blue), and one Fire (Red). You can start playing right away. Optional: Pick up a Deck Box you can color and store your cards in.
Battle Your Friends in a Dragon Duel
- Shuffle your deck and then place the entire stack of cards face down, and do not look at them.
- Both players draw the top card on their deck, keeping it hidden.
- Count to three and then flip your cards over at the same time to see who wins.
Gameplay is similar to Rock Paper Scissors:
- Fire (Red) beats Earth (Green)
- Earth (Green) beats Water (Blue)
- Water (Blue) beats Fire (Red)
- If you have the same color you tie
- If you tie, the oldest creature wins
Collecting & Trading Cards
Track Your Reading to Earn More Cards
Getting new cards is simple. Read for least 20 minutes every day this summer and log your progress on a Summer Reading Prize Tracker. Then, show your tracker to a librarian to get that week's featured card set. Different sets are available each week and supplies are limited. So, visit the Library often!
You can use the same tracker to earn free books and free cards. Starter Packs are available to new players throughout the summer, starting June 1.
Want to collect every card set? Stop by the Library at least once a week starting June 8 -13. The final set of Reading Dragons cards will be out July 27 - Aug 1. Each new set contains four cards, usually a whole "family," featuring the same mythical creature as an egg, baby, teen and adult.
If you read every day this summer, you can complete up to three trackers, meaning you can:
- Earn up to three more books for your home library
- Earn eight additional Reading Dragons card sets (32 cards)
You may also be able to earn special cards by participating in other activities, like visiting a Bookmobile stop. Please ask your neighborhood librarian for more details.
Rules for Trading Cards
Cards may also be traded with other players, but you MUST trade only WHOLE FAMILIES at a time. If you want to trade a card, you must trade the adult, child, baby and egg. The library will not replace cards that have been given away by trading, lost or damaged. Make sure you mark which cards are yours and which are not after making a trade.
About Reading Dragons & Friends
The program was developed at Dover Public Library by Librarians Liz Strauss and Mallory Thompson. It has grown from the collaborative efforts of creative librarians from all over. This program levels the playing field for readers of any ability by rewarding them for the time they spend reading.
Adult readers are encouraged to join Jax Stacks, our year-round reading challenge for adults.
