The Dragon's Egg

by Alison Baird, Frances Tyrrell (Illustrator)

On Ai Lien's birthday, her father gives her a stone from China. "It feels special," he tells her with a twinkle in his eye. "Perhaps it is a dragon's egg!"
The stone is pretty, and Ai Lien places it on her dresser. She can hardly believe what happens next. In the middle of the night, the stone cracks and opens...and a baby dragon is born.

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens, Dragons, Canada

140 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Alison Baird is a resident of Oakville, Ontario, Canada, and a graduate of Trinity College, University of Toronto, where she earned her Honours B.A. in English and her M.A. degree.

As an author she had an early start, publishing her first poems when she was 12. Her first book, The Dragon's Egg, was published by Scholastic Canada: it was a national bestseller and a Regional Winner of the Silver Birch Award (a children's choice award). It is now featured on school curricula across the country. The Hidden World and White as the Waves: A Novel of Moby Dick were both CCBC "Our Choice" selections, and White as the Waves was shortlisted for the IODE Violet Downey Book Award. Baird has also written two trilogies, the Willowmere Chronicles and The Dragon Throne. The Stone of the Stars, the first book of The Dragon Throne, received a starred review in Publisher’s Weekly.

Baird's short fiction has appeared in On Spec magazine, a Canadian periodical of original science fiction and fantasy for adults. Her story "Dragon Pearl" received an Honourable Mention in The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror published by St. Martin's Press. Another short story, "Moon Maiden," appeared in the acclaimed young adult anthology What If. . .? Amazing Stories Selected by Monica Hughes (Tundra Books), which was an ABA Kids’ Pick of the Lists and was featured on the New York Public Library’s Recommended List.

Reviews

[Jessica]

Ohmygosh, I'm pretty positive this was one of my most favourite books as a kid!

[Mahdi · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is a fun book to read
so in the book what totally happens is that a little kid gets a dragon and thats some of it.

[Lana Kamennof-sine · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely wonderful read intended for a young audience but equally wonderful for all ages.
Asian life, history, legend intermingled with universal hopes & experiences

[Twyla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ai Lien got a dragons egg for her birthday.That night it hatched and she liked him.they had alot of secret adventures like when the winter came he pretended to be a dog.another adventure was when they pretended to be friends.the last adventure was when the night came they brought him home.it was a super good book.if there were ten stars that's how many I'd give it.auryn 7yo

[Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great children's book. The illustrations were beautiful too. I love all the Toronto references in it, and it was a good story blending fantasy and reality well. Learned a lot about Chinese culture in this book, and it also addressed bullying.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

4.5

Amazing filled with creativity, friendship, and more! A book for all ages.

[kiki · Rating 4 out of 5]

very good story. Try it :)

[Uzair · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite book as a kid!

[Macklin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this for my seventh birthday. Ever since then I have been on the look out for perfect round stones. My collection is already quite extensive. I just really want a dragon!

[gzr · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book while going through my junk. I decided to read it and it was honestly a beautiful tale. It is catered towards children, however, I also enjoyed it.