Adventure comes first
Picnics, moonlight stories and wonderfully questionable plans, with plenty of laughter along the way.
The Dragon Collection from Lynsey Elliott · Illustrated stories and new KS2 adventures
Big adventures. Different minds. A place for everyone.
Welcome to a little dragon school full of friendship, discoveries and wonderfully unexpected adventures. Led by Maximus, a funny, kind-hearted little dragon, a growing family of dragon friends bring humour and heart to stories about learning, feelings and belonging.
What the collection stands for
Back in the Room Education helps adults look beyond labels and difficult moments. Back in the Room Stories brings that same belief to children through funny, magical adventures: you belong here, your feelings matter, and you can ask for help.
The collection will explore ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, stammering and Tourette syndrome, alongside anxiety, sensory differences, grief, eating disorders, school worries, friendship and family life. The family also includes Pip, who is small for their age, and Patch, who has a limb difference. Some stories focus on disabilities; others explore circumstances and barriers to learning, such as poverty, bullying, moving schools or learning a new language. Each dragon has interests, quirks and adventures beyond their story’s main theme.
Picnics, moonlight stories and wonderfully questionable plans, with plenty of laughter along the way.
Support, adjustments and patient friendships help the dragons take part in their own ways.
No dragon has to save the day or prove a special talent to deserve kindness.
For families and educators: these are fictional characters, each showing one possible experience. Conditions and experiences can overlap and vary widely. A story is a starting point for conversation, rather than a way to identify or diagnose a child.
Choose a story that fits the children’s interests and reading confidence. Try it as a class read-aloud, in a small group or at home. Children can talk, draw, point to a picture or pass. Keep discussion about the characters so children can join in without sharing personal experiences.
Years 1–2 · Ages 5–7
Build story language and talk about feelings. Share the picture books aloud. Pictures, repetition and short pauses give children time to predict what happens next, name a feeling and retell one part of the story.
Try it. Read Maximus and the Smallest Brave Thing. Look at the stepping stones together and draw two ways Jasper could get to the picnic. Practise asking, “Would you like some help?”
Years 3–4 · Ages 7–9
Practise comprehension and explain ideas. The illustrated chapters in Maximus and the Missing Moon Lantern give readers a mystery to follow across several short reading sessions. They can put events in order, compare clues and explain why a character might need a different way to join in.
Try it. Make a two-column clue chart headed “What we noticed” and “What it might mean”. Revisit a guess after the next chapter and explain what changed.
Years 5–6 · Ages 9–11
Use evidence and weigh up choices. In Maximus and the Secret of the Three Moon Marks, readers follow different routes through a branching mystery. They can compare outcomes, justify a decision with clues and consider whose ideas or needs were heard along the way.
Try it. Give two groups different routes. Ask each to map its choices, share a clue the other group missed and suggest one change that would help more dragons take part.
The Dragon Collection · Book 1 in Amazon review
Illustrated adventures about friendship, belonging and finding your own way, with the whole dragon family to meet. Book 1 has been submitted for Amazon review in Kindle and paperback. The other titles remain in development; these books are not yet available to buy.

Book 1 · Ages 6–9
Maximus has a mighty name, enormous wings and a joke for almost every occasion. When Jasper worries about crossing the stepping stones to the Moon Meadow Picnic, Maximus and Muppet make room for a different way.
A warm, funny adventure about friendship, dyspraxia and small acts of kindness. This first adventure ends with Maximus and Muppet at their special place beneath the moon.
Kindle & paperback · In Amazon reviewSubmitted for Amazon review. Release dates and buying links will appear here once the editions are approved and available.

Book 2 · Ages 6–9
Muppet has a tale about a moon mouse, a storm and a very soggy biscuit. He wants to share it at story night, but reading his own words aloud feels daunting.
An adventure about dyslexia, friendship and choosing the help that feels right. The next morning, a biscuit captain inspires Muppet’s next idea.
In development
A new adventure · Ages 6–9
A treasure trail takes Sammy and Maximus through Moon Meadow. Sammy has plenty of ideas, but reading the clues takes time. Their blue reading pen helps turn printed words into a voice.
Sammy chooses when to use the pen or ask for help, while the friends share clues, laughter and discoveries. An illustrated adventure about reading support, friendship and finding your own way.
In development
Illustrated adventure · Ages 6–9
The lantern parade is nearly ready, but a golden scarf’s label feels uncomfortable to Cottonwool. Maximus and Muppet listen while their friend chooses a comfortable way to take part.
Story theme: Sensory differences
In development
Illustrated adventure · Ages 6–9
Milo has big ideas for a cardboard rocket, but a long list of jobs feels hard to follow. The friends make room for a different way to work.
Story theme: ADHD
In development
Illustrated adventure · Ages 6–9
Bits has planned a pear-tree picnic. When rain changes everything, friends and a listening grown-up offer time, space and choices.
Story theme: Autism
In development
Illustrated adventure · Ages 6–9
Cheddar has a wonderful story about a hat that wants to eat the moon. Maximus learns to leave room for Cheddar’s words and listen without guessing.
Story theme: Stammering
In developmentEach book introduces every member of the dragon family, with different insights to discover as the collection grows.
Follow the collection’s progressA growing dragon family. A place for everyone.
Meet Maximus, Muppet, Sammy and the whole growing dragon family, including our newest friends Pebble through Fern. Every dragon has their own interests, personality and place in the adventure.

Friendship, kindness and little acts of courage
A little dragon with a mighty name, a cheeky grin and an enormous heart. Maximus loves silly jokes, ridiculous faces and grand entrances that sometimes end in a tangle of oversized wings. He notices when someone feels left out and invites them in. Even when he feels worried, he can take one small brave step. His friends make room for Maximus’s feelings too, and offer the same care he gives others. Meet the main character of our collection.

Dyspraxia
A gentle, thoughtful explorer with honey-yellow scales and cinnamon wings. Jasper loves discovering new places, although stepping stones and everyday tasks can take extra practice. His friends offer patience and practical help, while giving him room to find his own way.

Dyslexia
Lovably muddled, full of unexpected ideas and always ready with a story. Muppet has wonky horns, enormous feet and a lopsided grin. Reading and spelling can take extra effort, so friends and teachers help him discover different ways to enjoy books and share his ideas.

Reading support and confidence
I love questions, clues and adventures. Reading takes time for me, and my blue reading pen helps me hear printed words. I choose when to use it or ask for help. My ideas and discoveries are part of the adventure too.

Anxiety and expressing feelings
Creative Bella fills her sketchbook with wonderful adventures. Her butterfly-shaped wings flutter when she is excited or worried. Sometimes she needs reassurance or another way to explain how she feels. She is learning that a picture does not have to be perfect to be wonderful.

Sensory differences, clothes and textures
Soft, fluffy Cottonwool loves cosy things and gentle music. Certain clothes, scratchy seams, labels and other textures can feel uncomfortable. Soft fabrics and clothes that feel right make a difference. When busy sounds or sensations get too much, Cottonwool can ask for a quiet break, with friends and adults who listen.

Separation anxiety
With furry mitten-like paws and a favourite teddy, Mittens is a caring friend. Saying goodbye at the school door can feel difficult. Familiar routines, reassurance and a gentle welcome help her settle in and enjoy the day at her own pace.

Dyscalculia
A curious inventor with goggles, clever questions and inventions that do not always work first time. Numbers and quantities can take extra effort. Gizmo discovers practical ways to learn, asks for help and keeps experimenting without feeling embarrassed.

Tics and Tourette syndrome
Bouncy Sodapop loves games, bubbles and making friends laugh. Sodapop also has movements and sounds called tics that are not chosen. Friends learn to respond with understanding and keep including Sodapop in all the fun.

Friendship and boundaries
Sal is a thoughtful nature lover who enjoys sharing discoveries. Sal is learning to listen, respect boundaries and make room for other people’s ideas. Friends help one another feel heard, while remembering that everyone’s feelings and choices matter.

Eating disorders
Tiny, adventurous Nip has a story about eating disorders and asking for help. When food and feelings become tangled, Nip does not have to face it alone. Trusted adults help Nip find care, understanding and support. Nip is valued for the whole dragon they are.

Stammering
Cheerful, snack-loving Cheddar has a squashy tummy and wonderful stories to tell. Sometimes words repeat or take longer to come out. Friends give Cheddar time to finish, listen to the story and never rush the next sentence.

Grief and loss
Freckled Beans is an adventurous dragon with treasured memories of someone loved. Beans’s stories make room for sadness, happiness, questions and remembering, without rushing feelings. Friends listen and stay close through the good days and the difficult ones.

ADHD
Warm, curious Milo has big ears, star-speckled wings and a head full of ideas. Milo loves learning by doing. ADHD can make pausing, remembering things and sitting still tricky. Movement breaks, helpful routines and kind reminders make room for Milo to take part.

School worries and finding belonging
A clever mischief-maker with swept-back horns and a curling tail. Loki enjoys playful jokes and learns how to put things right when a joke goes too far. Sometimes getting through the school door is difficult; listening, reassurance and trusted adults help school feel safer.

Several differences at once: ADHD, autism and dyslexia
Biscuit is a rainbow-coloured dragon with many parts to one wonderful self. Biscuit has ADHD, autism and dyslexia, with their own strengths and things they find tricky. Friends ask what helps and make space for different needs. All Biscuit’s colours belong together.

Growing, asking questions and feeling safe
One of the littlest dragons, blue Bura has curious eyes and lots of brave questions. When something is new, a loving family gives Bura time to explore and take little steps. Bura and Axi are young siblings.

Growing, expressing feelings and belonging
Little peach-coloured Axi has ideas and feelings to share, even when all the words are not there yet. Axi’s family listens and helps their youngest dragon show how they feel. There is always room beside sibling Bura.

Finding a way forward (NEET)
Bacon is an older dragon with copper scales, a patched satchel and a talent for mending things. Bacon loves practical puzzles and terrible puns. Currently not in education, employment or training, Bacon is finding a next step with encouragement and support. There is more than one route forward.

Autism
Blue-grey Bits is autistic and loves star maps, polished pebbles and noticing little details. One favourite pebble is Captain Rockington! Quiet moments, clear plans and different ways to communicate can help Bits. Friends ask what works, while making room for Bits’s own interests, humour and way of joining in.

Being a young carer
Donny is a caring blue dragon who helps look after someone at home. Donny loves growing flowers and giving them ridiculous names. Donny needs time for friends, play and their own feelings too. Trusted adults help Donny find support, so the responsibility is not carried alone.

Sight loss and visual impairment
I have a visual impairment, and I love inventing treasure hunts. I use a cane to explore. Clear descriptions and paths I can move along help me. Ask before helping, and tell me who is there.

Developmental language disorder (DLD)
I love puppet shows and making up adventures. Understanding or finding spoken words can be tricky for me. Pictures, clear explanations and time to respond help me share what I mean. My ideas matter.

Learning disability
I love building things and making my friends laugh. Some learning and everyday tasks take more time and support for me. Clear steps, practice and patient help make a difference. I have choices, ideas and a place in the adventure.

Chronic illness and fatigue
I love cloud stories and gentle adventures. I live with an illness, and my energy can change from day to day. Rest and flexible plans help me join in. I still want invitations, even when I need a quieter way.

Epilepsy
I love bright kites and finding shapes in the clouds. I have epilepsy. The adults who care for me know my support plan. My friends include me in the fun and listen to what I need. There is much more to me than epilepsy.

Physical disability
I love exploring and drawing maps. I use a wheelchair to get around. Smooth paths and places I can reach help me take part. Ask me about my ideas, and ask before helping. Let us plan an adventure with room for everyone.

Brain injury
I love mosaics and collecting little treasures. After a brain injury, remembering, concentrating or finding words can sometimes take extra effort. Breaks, reminders and patient support help me. My friends keep getting to know the whole me.

Poverty and insecure housing
I love stories and making things from everyday treasures. My family does not always have a settled home or everything we need. Kind adults help us find practical support. I deserve friendship, learning and adventures just as I am.

Bullying and discrimination
I love dancing and making up funny greetings. Being treated unkindly or unfairly can make it hard to feel safe and learn. Trusted adults listen and help put things right. I deserve respect and a place to belong.

Learning a new language
I have lots of ideas and stories, and I am learning new words to share them. Pictures, gestures and patient friends help. The languages I already know matter too. Learning new words does not mean starting with no knowledge.

Interrupted education
Moving and time away from school have left gaps in my learning. I love discovering places and asking questions. A warm welcome, help finding my starting point and time to practise let me build on what I already know.

Difficult experiences and trauma
Some things I have been through can make the world feel worrying. I love moon stories and making cosy dens. Safe, predictable routines and trusted adults help me. I can share my feelings in my own time.

School-related anxiety
I want to learn, but getting to school can feel overwhelming. I love growing seeds and asking why. A trusted adult, a gentle plan and time to build confidence help me take small steps. My worries deserve to be heard.

Deafness and communication
I am deaf, and I love treasure hunts and funny stories. My friends make sure I can see them and ask how I like to communicate. My ideas belong here.

Being small for your age
I am much smaller than other dragons my age. I love big adventures, exploring and inventing ridiculous riddles. Being small does not mean I am younger. Ask before helping, and let me tell you what works for me. There is room for my ideas, whatever my size. My strengths include curiosity and determination.

Limb difference
I was born with a front limb missing. I love making puppets and putting on very funny shows. I use tools and support that work for me. Ask before helping, and listen to what I choose. My friends know me for my stories, my jokes and being myself. My strengths include imagination and creativity.

Friendship and belonging
Pebble collects interesting stones and loves finding ways to build with them. A pile of pebbles can become a bridge or a game for everyone. Pebble’s story gives readers a chance to think about who might be waiting for an invitation to join in.

Bullying and finding support
Thistle loves woodland games and will happily spend an afternoon trying to solve a riddle. When someone keeps being unkind, a friend can listen and help Thistle tell a trusted grown-up. The grown-ups are responsible for helping to make things safer.

Different families
Clover grows tiny gardens and likes looking for the first signs of a new leaf. At home, Clover’s two mums make time for questions and little adventures. Through Clover’s family, readers can talk about the many ways families care for each other.

Foster care and belonging
Wren enjoys nest-building and making a cosy place to sit. Foster carers Moss and Mallow help Wren settle in with familiar routines and time to get to know each other. Wren’s auntie Bracken is part of the family story too.

Bereavement and remembering
Ember makes lanterns and likes watching their light move in the dark. A lantern can be one way to remember someone who has died. Friends can sit with Ember, listen, or make space for a quiet moment.

Parents separating / two homes
Hearth likes sharing a favourite storybook. Since Copper and Rose separated, Hearth has two homes and a cosy place to read in each one. Both grown-ups take care of the arrangements and make room for Hearth’s questions.

Moving home or school
Juniper draws maps and notices small details along the way. Moving home or school can mean missing familiar places while learning where everything is. A friendly tour and a clear plan for the first day can help Juniper find a way around.

Poverty and inclusion
Acorn turns cardboard into all sorts of inventions. A game or project is easier to join when everyone can use materials they already have. Acorn’s story invites readers to think of activities nobody has to pay to take part in.

Being a young carer
Rowan loves gardening and quiet time in nature. When Mum needs extra help, Rowan can feel worried even after the practical jobs are done. With a trusted adult to talk to and other grown-ups to share the care, Rowan has time to be with friends.

Welcoming a new sibling
Puddle loves splashing games and getting muddy. With baby twins Pipkin and Posy at home, there is plenty to enjoy and a lot to get used to. Ripple and Rain make time for Puddle’s feelings and the games they like playing together.

Identity and self-expression
Prism enjoys choosing colours and trying out costumes. Some days call for a bright cape and some days for something quieter. Friends give Prism room to experiment and take the lead on what feels right.

Culture and language
Saffron loves sharing family stories and hearing what other dragons do at home. Friends can ask kind questions, listen, and make space for different languages and traditions. Saffron chooses which stories to share.

Big feelings and overwhelm
Flint loves energetic games and has days when noise or excitement builds up quickly. A pause, some space or a calm grown-up can help Flint work out what to do next. Friends can leave the invitation to play open.

Consent and boundaries
Petal makes flower crafts and likes deciding who to give them to. Petal’s story helps readers practise asking first, listening to the answer and giving someone room to change their mind.

Perfectionism and making mistakes
Fable loves designing and making things. When a plan goes wrong, it can be hard to look past the mistake. Trying a rough first version with a friend gives Fable room to experiment and decide what to change.

Fairness and different support
Brook likes building bridges and solving puzzles. A bridge that works for one dragon might be difficult for another to cross. Brook’s story invites readers to design a route that gives every dragon a way to join in.

Selective mutism
Fern creates miniature woodland scenes. With selective mutism, speaking can feel impossible in some situations. Friends and grown-ups can keep including Fern, give time, and make room for pointing, drawing or other ways to share an idea.
A warm welcome from Moon Meadow
Meet the grown-ups who help our little dragons learn, explore and belong.

Moon Meadow’s teacher
Hello, I’m Dolly Bramblebush, but the little dragons call me Miss Bramblebush. My red satchel is full of stories and my classroom is full of curious questions. Everyone learns differently. I listen, ask what helps and find different ways for us to join in. Sometimes I get things wrong too, then I listen and try again. Burnley is my husband. “Let’s find a way that works for you.”

Moon Meadow’s classroom helper
Hello, I’m Poppy Honeyfern. I help Miss Bramblebush in the classroom. I love picture cards, little discoveries and giving a quiet welcome to anyone who needs a moment before joining in. I can help break a big task into smaller steps or explain something another way. I ask what helps, because every dragon has their own ideas and their own way of learning. “We can take it one step at a time.”

Moon Meadow’s gardener and caretaker
Hello, I’m Burnley Bramblebush, Moon Meadow’s gardener and caretaker, and Dolly’s husband. I look after our flowers, paths and school, from watering tiny seedlings to mending a wobbly gate. I love showing the little dragons how things grow. We can plant, ask questions or enjoy a quiet moment outdoors. Donny is always welcome to share his gardening ideas with me. “A little care can help wonderful things grow.”

Moon Meadow’s mechanic
Hello, I’m Bunny Butch, Moon Meadow’s mechanic. You’ll recognise me by my glasses, my overalls and the toolbox that comes almost everywhere with me. I love finding out how things work and helping them work again. I’m happiest with a puzzle to solve and a curious dragon beside me. We can ask questions, try an idea and have another go. Everyone has something clever to bring. “Let’s work it out together.”
The people around our little dragons
Meet the parents, siblings, grandparents, foster carers and trusted grown-ups who share life in Moon Meadow. Different families, familiar moments, and room for every feeling.

Family love, listening and support
Bura and Axi’s mum and dad help their two little dragons feel safe, loved and understood. They listen, learn what helps each child and celebrate little steps. Their family makes room for every feeling.

Puddle’s baby twin siblings
Pipkin is a sky-blue baby who hiccups tiny bubbles. Peach-pink Posy loves crinkly leaves and exploring puddles. Their parents look after them, while Puddle gets special time and attention too.

Puddle, Pipkin and Posy’s parents
Ripple and Rain love muddy walks, picnic stories and little splashes. They care for their three little dragons and make time for Puddle as well as the twins.

Rowan’s mum
Hazel loves nature, sketchbooks and quiet time together. She lives with a long-term illness and sometimes needs more rest or help. Trusted grown-ups support their family, so Rowan has time for learning, friends and adventures.

Donny’s gran
Golden Marigold shares Donny’s love of gardening. She has mobility difficulties and enjoys tending raised planters. Donny can help with small jobs they enjoy together, while grown-ups take responsibility for her care.

Wren’s foster carers
Moss enjoys woodwork; Mallow loves baking. They listen, offer familiar routines and let Wren settle at their own pace. There is space for Wren’s feelings and the other important people in Wren’s life.

Clover’s two mums
Blossom loves growing flowers; Briar loves sharing stories. Together they make room for Clover’s questions, feelings and little adventures. Love grows in all kinds of families.

Hearth’s parents
Copper and Rose live in separate homes. Each has a cosy place for Hearth and a treasured picture on the wall. Both take responsibility for caring for Hearth: two cosy homes, loved in both.

A helping grown-up in Moon Meadow
Cedar helps Hazel and Marigold with shopping and everyday jobs. This practical adult support helps make room for Rowan and Donny’s own adventures. Grown-ups help; little dragons get to be little.

Wren’s auntie
Bracken is part of Wren’s birth family. She loves woodland walks, pressed leaves and sharing family stories. She listens to Wren and makes room for every feeling.
A seven-page A4 poster pack featuring the extended dragon families and Cedar.
Download the family poster pack (PDF)Print in colour using “Fit to page”. Free-resource permissions apply.
Coming soon
The dragon world is growing with two new collections for Key Stage 2. The same warmth, humour and belonging, with new mysteries, challenges and choices.
Short, illustrated chapter adventures with one clear mission, a mystery to unravel and a puzzle or creative challenge to enjoy at the end.
Follow the friends through funny discoveries and unexpected setbacks, then explore the clues, share your ideas or create something inspired by the story.
Read the adventure. Solve the mystery. Complete the mission.
You decide what happens next. Follow a clue, choose a route and turn to a different page to discover where your decision leads.
Explore different paths and endings, with the dragons contributing their own ideas and choosing the support that works for them. Return to a choice and try another adventure.
Your choices. Different routes. New discoveries.
Both collections are in development. Titles, release dates and buying links will be announced here when confirmed.
Print, share and meet the family
Colourful A4 posters for shared reading spaces, classrooms and family story corners. Each dragon has a name, story theme and personal interests or strengths.
The original dragon family plus Sammy. Seven pages, with up to six portraits per page.
Download original posters (PDF · 6.4 MB)Seventeen new friends across three pages, with up to six portraits per page.
Download new posters (PDF · 1.8 MB)Print in colour on A4 using “Fit to page”.
The themes include disabilities, differences, needs and life experiences; not all are diagnoses. Each dragon represents an individual character. Nobody has to have a special talent to belong.
Free printable community posters
The whole Moon Meadow community, from the little dragons to the grown-ups and extended families. Choose a ready-to-display colour poster or a matching version to colour together.
Print and display
A welcoming colour poster with every current dragon profile, grown-up and family group from the collection, with their names underneath.
Print, colour and display
The same whole-community scene in black-and-white outlines, ready for pencils and a shared colouring session.
Landscape PDFs. A2 is best for seeing and colouring the whole cast; the A4 versions are handy home-printer copies. For A3, print the A2 PDF using “fit to page”. These are one-page posters, not book extracts.
Extra free poster: the family group portrait
The whole Moon Meadow community, redrawn in relaxed seated poses for one big family portrait. The dragon friends, grown-ups and extended families gather together, with room around every face and no individual name labels. Different dragons. One place to belong.
Ready to display
A warm, full-colour portrait with newly drawn seated poses, familiar character details and a quieter meadow background.
Colour it together
The same seated family portrait in black-and-white outlines, with the same characters in exactly the same positions.
One-page landscape PDFs. A2 gives the whole community more room and is best for displaying or colouring the detail; A4 is a home-printer copy. For A3 or a larger A1 poster, ask your printer to fit the A2 file to the chosen paper size. The named-cast posters above remain available. These free posters contain no book extracts.
Free for classrooms and homes
Free, printable activities inspired by the Dragon Collection — friendship, feelings and finding your own way. Print at home or in the classroom; no sign-up needed.
Seven friendly dragons to colour: Maximus, Muppet, Jasper, Milo, Cottonwool, Bella and Biscuit. A4, one dragon per page, ready for pencils or crayons.
Download colouring pages (PDF · 2 MB)A gentle daily check-in sheet. Children circle or colour the dragon face that matches how they feel, then note one thing that would help.
Download check-in sheet (PDF)A colour-in classroom or bedroom poster: “There’s room for everyone in the story.” Print, colour and display.
Download poster (PDF)A reading record sheet for dragon explorers: log each book or story, who you read it with and how it felt, with stars to colour.
Download reading record (PDF)These free printables are for classroom and home use. They complement the stories, rather than replacing them. Book 1 is in Amazon review for Kindle and paperback; other Dragon Collection titles remain in development. Buying links will appear when the books are available.