Continue the dragon adventure with Book 2! Lio enters Shimmerstone Academy, a magical school for dragon bearers. Face bullies, make true friends, and battle the Order of the Spider in this action-packed first reader for ages 6-8.
The Dragon Adventure Continues—Now with EPIC Magic School Battles!
Did your child race through Book 1 begging for more dragon adventures? Backpack Dragons 2: Academy Shimmerstone delivers everything young readers crave: magical schools, dragon battles, true friendship, and a villain so dangerous that even teachers are afraid.
Perfect for children ages 6-8 who loved Book 1 and are ready for MORE!
Lio thought finding a dragon was the adventure. He was wrong.
Now at Shimmerstone Academy—a secret school hidden from the ordinary world—Lio must learn to control his fire magic, make new friends, and survive dangers far greater than he imagined.
But Shimmerstone isn't what Lio expected: - Tulu the bully has a water dragon and makes Lio's life miserable - Professor Fizzle teaches about the Great Curse and ancient enemies - Enna, a brave girl with a stone dragon, becomes Lio's first true friend - Fire dragons were once the most powerful—but Lio can barely light a candle
Then the Order of the Spider attacks in the night.
Dark figures with spider masks storm the academy, hunting dragons with magical ropes and chains. Students scatter in terror. Teachers fight desperately to protect them.
And Lio must make an impossible choice: Hide and stay safe... or unleash Fero's fire and risk everything?
When Enna stands between Lio and danger, he discovers something incredible: Friendship makes magic stronger. But is it strong enough to defeat the Order of the Spider?
Designed for growing readers ages 7-8: Progresses from 1 sentence per page (Book 1) to 2 sentences per page—building reading stamina naturally without overwhelming young readers.
More complex story, same supportive format: Children ready for deeper plots get magical school dynamics, bullying resolution, and epic battles—all with the same progress tracking and chapter illustrations they loved in Book 1.
Character development kids can relate to: Lio learns to stand up for himself, Enna shows what true friendship looks like, and even bullies have reasons for their behavior. Perfect for parent-child discussions.
Higher stakes = Higher engagement: The Order of the Spider threat creates genuine suspense that keeps children turning pages—building reading stamina through pure excitement.
Educational themes wrapped in adventure: Teaches courage, loyalty, standing up to bullies, and believing in yourself—all within an action-packed dragon story.
Series progression done right: Each book increases difficulty slightly, so children naturally develop reading skills without noticing they're learning.
This is Book 2 in the Backpack Dragons series. - Start with Book 1: The Secret Egg (where Lio meets Fero) - Continue with Book 3: The Fairy Forest (coming soon—new magical realms await!)
Each book stands alone, but reading in order maximizes the emotional connection to characters and their growth.
Builds reading stamina strategically: The jump from 1 to 2 sentences per page is the perfect next step for children ready to level up without feeling overwhelmed.
Addresses real social-emotional learning: The bullying storyline with Tulu provides age-appropriate ways to discuss conflict, empathy, and standing up for friends.
Creates series loyalty: When children fall in love with characters across multiple books, they develop intrinsic reading motivation that lasts a lifetime.
Validates different types of courage: Lio's quiet bravery and Enna's bold protection show multiple ways to be courageous—helping diverse children see themselves as heroes.
Visual progress = Confidence building: Progress bars make reading achievement tangible, especially powerful for neurodivergent learners who thrive on clear milestones.
If your child loved Book 1 and is ready for magical schools, epic battles, and deeper friendships, Backpack Dragons 2: Academy Shimmerstone is the perfect next step in their reading journey.
Order now and watch your growing reader discover that they CAN read longer stories—one dragon page at a time!
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