Reading Dragons and Friends

Reading Dragons and Friends

Wednesday, January 29, 2025

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Online (Zoom)

Reading Dragons and Friends is a fun way to motivate kids to build positive reading habits. Join the Reading Dragons and Friends creators Mallory Thompson and Liz Strauss and artist Carey Pietsch for an informative session about their collaboration on a special iREAD version of this fun reading incentive that you can use at your library.

Hear the story of how Reading Dragons supports literacy and how libraries around the country have collaboratively grown the program in exciting ways that Mallory and Liz never imagined.

Plus, get the scoop on the special iREAD edition of Reading Dragons and Friends and the awesome art Carey Pietsch created for it.

Register to attend this webinar

All ILA Noon Network webinars are free. The webinar recordings are available to ILA personal members shortly after the webinars. This webinar is open to all states.


About the Speakers

Carey Pietsch is the co-adapter and cartoonist on the New York Times #1 bestselling The Adventure Zone graphic novel series from First Second Books. She was previously the artist on Lumberjanes #29-32 and the Adventure Time: Marceline Gone Adrift miniseries, and she makes original comics about magic and empathy.

When she's not working, you can probably find her reading, playing games with low skill but great enthusiasm, or hiking and birdwatching around NYC.


Liz Strauss is the Teen Services Manager at Dover Public Library. Liz has a BA in English and Art as well as her MLIS. She has worked with teens in libraries for over thirteen years and is still surprised by the antics of her young charges.

In her spare time, Liz writes, draws, and plays video games. She is also the author of two young adult novels, Teen Psychic and Psychic Friend, under her full name, Elizabeth R. Strauss.


Mallory Thompson is the Adult Services Manager at Dover Public Library. Mallory has a BA in English and an MLIS. She runs the Canal Town Book Festival and The Detective Agency Book Club. She enjoys board games and reading Science Fiction and Mystery.

Mallory is also a digital artist with work on Teachers Pay Teachers and Patreon under the name Paper Fable.

iREAD Summer Reading Programs

Since 1981, iREAD provides high quality, low-cost resources and products that enable local library staff to motivate children, young adults, and adults to read.

Visit the iREAD website »