Dragon Dancing
Storytime and a birthday celebration inspire creative expression and imaginative play for a group of children in Carole Lexa Schaefer’s merry picture book. After their teacher reads a book about dragons, Mei Lin and her classmates decorate for her birthday celebration. Mei Lin turns herself into a birthday dragon, and soon everyone has something to contribute to the costume: “boink-boink” eyes from Willy, a “ricky-rack” back from Emma, feathers, spangles, scales, and more. Soon Mei-Lin is leading everyone in a dragon dance, “stomp, bomp-tromping away . . . out the whish-whoosh doors . . . creep-crouching through tall forests . . . swirl-whirling around whispery meadows . . .” Schaefer uses alliteration, onomatopoeia and rhythmic variation to create a delightful and satisfying story about a diverse and dynamic group of young children who travel far and wide across the landscape of their collective imagination. Honor Book, 2008 Charlotte Zolotow Award ©2008 Cooperative Children's Book Center
Illustrated by Pierr Morgan
CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 3-6
Age Range:
Babies/Toddlers (birth – 3)
PreK-Early Elementary (Ages 4-7)
Format:
Picture book
Subjects:
Celebrations, Holidays, and Observances
Chinese and Chinese Americans
Dance and Dancers
Imagination/Imaginary Play
Wordplay
Diversity subject:
Asian
Publisher:
Viking
Publish Year: 2007
Pages: 32
ISBN: 0670060844
CCBC Location: Picture Book, Schaefer