D is for Dragon Dance - Softcover

Ying Chang Compestine grew up in China and later moved to the United States. Her books include "The Story of Chopsticks", "The Story of Noodles", and "The Story of Kites" all illustrated by YongSheng Xuan. She lives with her family in California. You can visit her on the Web at www.yingc.com.

PreSchool-Grade 2–In this alphabetical celebration of the Chinese New Year, a boy and a girl prepare for the festivities with their family. Each page or full spread, representing one letter, includes such headings as A is for Acrobats, I is for Incense, and P is for Peking Duck. One- to two-sentence subtitles under some of these headings explain the traditions. The Z is for Zodiac page includes a circular chart to allow children to find their own Chinese sign. The back matter includes an authors note on the traditions surrounding the New Year, an artists note on the calligraphy appearing in the background, and a recipe for dumplings. While Compestines text is well researched, many of her subtitles are written in an uneven tone, vacillating between a second- and third-person voice. The art makes up for the patchy text and depicts the vibrancy and color of the celebrations as they occur in modern China. Done in watercolor, acrylic, and latex, it features stylized, richly colored figures layered on subtle, full-page calligraphic designs. Young readers will enjoy observing the antics of a playful cat on each spread. Overall, this vivid introduction is sure to fascinate youngsters new to the traditions of this holiday.–Rachel G. Payne, Brooklyn Public Library, NY
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