The Dog and the Dragon

Hoid's Storybook Collection

by Brandon Sanderson, Howard Lyon (Illustrator)

A fan favorite story about the dog determined to become a dragon. Hint: That’s impossible. A dog can’t become a dragon. Highly recommended if you love any of the following: fluffy, scruffy pals, stories about growth and acceptance, or bridgemen in need of a pat on the back.

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens, Short Stories, Graphic Novels, Art, Dragons, Picture Books

42 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication December 1, 2026

About the author

I’m Brandon Sanderson, and I write stories of the fantastic: fantasy, science fiction, and thrillers.

The release of Wind and Truth in December 2024—the fifth and final book in the first arc of the #1 New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive series—marks a significant milestone for me. This series is my love letter to the epic fantasy genre, and it’s the type of story I always dreamed epic fantasy could be. Now is a great time to get into the Stormlight Archive since the first arc, which begins with Way of Kings, is complete.

During our crowdfunding campaign for the leatherbound edition of Words of Radiance, I announced a fifth Secret Project called Isles of the Emberdark, which came out in the summer of 2025. Coming December 2025 is Tailored Realities, my non-Cosmere short story collection featuring the new novella Moment Zero.

Defiant, the fourth and final volume of the series that started with Skyward in 2018, came out in November 2023, capping an already book-filled year that saw the releases of all four Secret Projects: Tress of the Emerald Sea, The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, and The Sunlit Man. These four books were all initially offered to backers of the #1 Kickstarter campaign of all time.

November 2022 saw the release of The Lost Metal, the seventh volume in the Mistborn saga, and the final volume of the Mistborn Era Two featuring Wax & Wayne. Now that the first arc of the Stormlight Archive is wrapped up, I’ve started writing the third era of Mistborn in 2025.

Most readers have noticed that my adult fantasy novels are in a connected universe called the Cosmere. This includes The Stormlight Archive, both Mistborn series, Elantris, Warbreaker, four of the five Secret Projects, and various novellas, including The Emperor’s Soul, which won a Hugo Award in 2013. In November 2016 all of the existing Cosmere short fiction was released in one volume called Arcanum Unbounded. If you’ve read all of my adult fantasy novels and want to see some behind-the-scenes information, that collection is a must-read.

I also have three YA series: The Rithmatist (currently at one book), The Reckoners (a trilogy beginning with Steelheart), and Skyward. For young readers I also have my humorous series Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians, which had its final book, Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians, released in 2022. Many of my adult readers enjoy all of those books as well, and many of my YA readers enjoy my adult books, usually starting with Mistborn.

Additionally, I have a few other novellas that are more on the thriller/sci-fi side. These include the three stories in Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds, as well as Perfect State and Snapshot. These two novellas are also featured in 2025’s Tailored Realities. There’s a lot of material to go around!

Good starting places are Mistborn (a.k.a. The Final Empire), Skyward, Steelheart, The Emperor’s Soul, Tress of the Emerald Sea, and Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians. If you’re already a fan of big fat fantasies, you can jump right into The Way of Kings.

I was also honored to be able to complete the final three volumes of The Wheel of Time, beginning with The Gathering Storm, using Robert Jordan’s notes.

Sample chapters from all of my books are available at brandonsanderson.com—and check out the rest of my site for chapter-by-chapter annotations, deleted scenes, and more.

Reviews

[Anna [Bran. San. Stan] · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite Wit story, which always moves me to tears, beautifully rendered in illustrations. Love it!

[Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute and sweet picture book about a dog that wishes to be a dragon! Kids loved it and so did I. Incredibly charming and funny.

[Amythyst Haze · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

✨ If you’re a fan of The Stormlight Archive and the wider Cosmere, you’ll know who Hoid is and the stories he tells. ✨

It’s wonderful to see Brandon Sanderson bring Hoid’s stories to life in a collection of 4 beautifully illustrated children’s books for adults. 🐉

A heartwarming tale about a dog who dreams of becoming a dragon, told beautifully and brought to life through this incredible picture book. It’s a lovely way to experience Hoid’s storytelling and become even more immersed in the world Sanderson has created.

If you’ve read Rhythm of War, you’ll understand the deeper meaning behind this little story. ❤️

[Pål · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this story from the Stormlight Archive. It’s also a nice kids book. Loved the art and the little caterpillar dude that’s never mentioned, but is always there 😊

[Derrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m biased, but any story centered around a cute dog is probably going to do well for me. It’s a silly story too, and even my tween enjoyed it.

[Renée · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

That was cute, I especially loved the last page with the dragon.

[Michael Minson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the storybook I was most excited to read. Partly because it was my favorite of Hoid’s tales in Stormlight, but also because I thought it would be the most accessible for my daughter. It has a good moral and is well crafted.

Since these are storybooks the art direction is highly important. This was done very by the book as far as a children’s storybook would be considered. Me and my daughter both enjoyed it, but it doesn’t have the same stylized images as The Girl Who Looked Up or Wandersail. That’s not a bad thing. Again, we really liked it.

As with the ChasmFriends book, I loved seeing the little Sleepless following the dog around. It was a fun little Easter egg for the parents reading these books for their kids who have read all of Stormlight.

Fun and enjoyable. I hope my daughter asks to read it again soon and not that stupid Spidey and his Amazing Friends book.

[Dustin (dragonarmybooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, if this isn't just the cutest thing ever...

I knew these were going to be good, but I didn't expect them to be this good. Read it with my wife and she also loved it. Who wouldn't? The dog is adorable and the art is fantastic. Bonus points for the few Cosmere easter eggs I noticed along the way.

Can't wait to read it to my niece and nephew!

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This picture book adaptation of Hoid’s story, The Boy and the Dragon, that he told to Kaladin in Chapter 80 of Rhythm of War is a fantastic meeting of Brandon Sanderson’s writing and the art of Howard Lyon. The short story taking place presumably on Yolen follows a little dog who aspires to become a dragon after seeing one fly over one day and his three-part plan to become a dragon. While failing to become one, he instead becomes a hero dog to his family when what he learned saves the baby of the family. There is a nice two-page picture at the end of the book that is a nice reversal of the story we just had from the dragon’s point of view. Overall, this is a great book for little kids and for Cosmere fans of all ages.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was cuter than I expected it to be. It's a perfect children's book, with a clear lesson and wonderful artwork.

[Bobby Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute book, the art is amazing - especially the dragon image. Reminded me of another kids book we have where the dog wants to play with different animals around the farm.

[Tom Wheddon · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

“It will,” Wit said, “but then it will get better. Then it will get worse again. Then better. This is life, and I will not lie by saying every day will be sunshine. But there will be sunshine again, and that is a very different thing to say. That is truth. I promise you, Kaladin: You will be warm again.”


This is one of my favourite stories Hoid tells. Second only to Wandersail. That said, I can’t give it a full 5* because this edition doesn’t have the sad ending 😉

Howard Lyon your art is immaculate.

Edit: I got the backerkit edition that’s how I’ve reviewed this now!

[Joshua Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just got this from one of Sanderson’s crowdfunding campaigns, and immediately read it to my children (6 and 2 years old). They love stories, and sat in attention. The artwork was wonderful, and got “oooo”s and “ahhh”s from the kids. Both the book, and enjoying the kids’ reactions, was perfect. Highly recommended for anyone with kids who like stories, or for adult Cosmere fans that just want a little more Sanderson in a new way.

[Angela · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

I have such mixed feelings about this adaoptation. Mostly, I wish they had kept the original ending from Stormlight. I get that this is adapted for younger audiences, so the happy ending is kind of required. But The Dog and the Dragon is such a powerful story in large part because of how it ended, and how that message born from that ending resonated with so many people.

So, yes, a fraction of a star off for the happy ending. But the story and the art are so exceptional.

[N.A. Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son loved this book. The story was fun and cute. The art was amazing. I did not noticed the little caterpillar at first until my son pointed it out at the end and I went back to look at it in each illustration. I can’t wait to read the rest of the books in the set with him. Got to love Kickstarter. I got this book from supporting a Kickstarter I did not even realize it hadn’t released until I came to write this review.

[Happy Cake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, I was so exited to recieve these email yesterday! I'm so glad we supported the kickstarter. Although I've already read the story in The Stormlight archive, it's still such a good story and seeing it illustrated makes all the difference! I really can't wait to see it on paper when the physical copies arrive. And I ablolutely adored Howard Lyon's artstyle. Especially on the last spread ;).

[Nichol Tate · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book of reaching for your dreams and through trying to attain your dreams, you discover that your dreams are different. But you still succeed and get the life you wanted. This book is marvelous. The pictures are beautifully drawn. The book has Sanderson signature style. Highly recommend for the children at heart

[Nichol Tate · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book about goals and dreams. They change as you mature, and that's a good thing as dog learns. He also learns to stick to his goals. It's a fantastic book that teaches determination and resilience while being flexible. The story has the classic Sanderson flair and use of words; it's beautiful. The pictures are breathtaking. It's perfect for children of all ages.

[Danielle T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, another one of Hoid's stories from Stormlight Archive published as its own book (and thus without the "what's a dog?" interjections by a grouchy Rosharan). Howard Lyon's illustrations are very whimsical, though I felt like the baby was a little uncanny. Really fun easter eggs for the Cosmere aware within the illustrations.

[Natalie]

A cute adaptation of one of Hoid's stories into a picture book. It makes the perfect book to read to children at bedtime.

Reading it I thought the little bug that followed the dog around was a caterpillar, but another reviewer pointed out it's one of the Sleepless - what a fun little reference!

Note to self: from Rhythm of War

[Enci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Based on the book I fully didnt remember which story this was but then I started reading it and I remembered, this is both so sad and then so heartwarming and the art added a bunch to it, it was a really pretty style and a fun little story in the collection.

[Adam Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent children's story about trying hard to be something much more than yourself only to find the unique skills you have to be enough to make you plenty special.
Wish Hoid was in the book, but it seems as fantastical as a tale he would tell.

Fantastic!

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story and the art was really the best part of the book. Howard Lyon is an amazing artist. Each page was so colorful and well done. I loved the hints of the Cosmere throughout, and I loved the little purple caterpillar that accompanied the dog.

[Joshua Botelho · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got the Hood's storybook collection early from crowdfunding with the goal of reading them to my 3 year old. They did not all end up being child appropriate books but this one definitely was!

Very cute and charming, it was a great story and both my child and I loved it.

[Marcos “MSMDragon” · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story in Stormlight Archives, so I was so excited to get this book. Not only was the artwork beautiful and the story cute, but the deeper meaning was also very powerful. I know my nephews and niece will love this one!

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not really spoilers but the theme gives the the away a bit:

An amazing story about not letting others define who you are. Be yourself but most of all be kind. Kindness will bring you further in life than constantly pulling people down into the mud with you. Amazing as always Brandon Sanderson.

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A whimsical tale suited for younger readers and all audiences. The artwork here is very nicely done and very colorful. The moral of the story is really great as well. It reminds me of a lot of similar animal stories I've read before.

[Charly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Que sea el propio Sanderson quien te vaya leyendo los cuatro de cuentos de Hoid tiene un encanto especial, al tiempo que recuerdas los que ya salían en los libros.

[Emily Hale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun book.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited when my digital rewards came through from the latest Sanderson Secret Project. Although I was looking forward to the main book I think the thing I was really excited for was the four picture books as it was something so different.
This is such a sweet story about a small dog who dreams of becoming a dragon. The art work is adorable and goes perfectly with the lovely story. The moral is also darling and it gets an important lesson over to children in a fantastic way. I think this is my favourite story of the four (although I think I prefer the art work in The Girl Who Looked Up). All in all this is a great collection of stories that work for children but also something adults can get something out of.

#SeptemberShorts