The true story behind it
We waited a while for our son, and because he was our first, we did everything we could to keep him safe before he arrived. My wife used to take the bus to work, but once she was pregnant I drove her in every morning, shielding her from wind and rain, fussing over her meals and worrying about every little thing. That instinct to protect a life before it has even begun is the heart of this story. Starlight guards a rainbow dragon’s egg, keeping it warm and safe until the day it hatches, and Kitty and Dino help her through every cold night and storm. The care they pour into that egg is the same care we poured into those waiting months.
About this book
Starlight the Horse is part of Magical Tales of Kitty & Dino, a series of 43 gentle bedtime stories. In every one, Kitty, a red cat who can bend the wind and water, and Dino, a green dinosaur who grows plants out of nothing, help a new animal friend through a small problem, with a quiet lesson coming along for the ride. Like all of them, this story was written by Asanga Wijeratne for his own son, and it is made for ages 3 to 8.
What happens in the story
Starlight, a white horse with a long silver mane and a star on her head, has an important job. The Dragon Elder chose her to guard a rainbow dragon’s egg until it hatches, and it has to stay at just the right heat. She hasn’t slept in days, cold weather is coming, and the egg won’t hatch for three more days.
Dino can keep the egg warm, and Kitty can keep the cold away. Together they build a shelter: Dino grows a dome of thick vines and Kitty raises a small wall. When a cold wind blows, Kitty makes a warm air wall, and when the rain comes, she makes a shield so the water flows around them. They take turns, and Starlight finally gets some sleep.
On the third morning, the egg starts to shake, and out comes a tiny dragon with rainbow scales, as small as Kitty. Dino grows a vine of rainbow berries for its first meal, and the Dragon Elder tells Starlight she’ll be the little dragon’s friend for life.
Looking for a children’s book about a horse?
Most horse books for this age are about ponies, farms or learning to ride. Starlight is a guardian, and her story is about looking after something small that can’t look after itself.
It’s a lovely read for a child who’s about to become a big brother or sister. Waiting for a baby, keeping it safe, and the joy when it finally arrives are all here, in dragon form.
Look inside
Flip through the opening pages of the book.
Questions to ask after reading
A few questions for the minute after the book closes. There are no wrong answers.
- Why couldn’t the egg get cold?
- How did Kitty, Dino and Starlight take turns looking after the egg?
- What do you think the baby dragon will be like when it grows up?
Perfect for
- ✓ A child waiting for a new baby brother or sister
- ✓ Kids who love dragons and magical creatures
- ✓ Talking about taking care of something small
- ✓ A cozy, gentle bedtime read
Quick answers
For the kid waiting for someone new
One short story. One very special egg. Ready for tonight.
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