Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection.
A young boy learns about the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival from his grandfather when he attends his first dragon boat race.
The Chinese Dragon Boat Festival takes place on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar, ushering in the start of summer. On the night before the Dragon Boat Festival, a young boy asks his grandfather how the dragon boat races first began. His grandfather tells him that legend has it that the races started in the ancient time of the Dragon King, when every lake and river had a guardian dragon. Dragons symbolize good luck, and have great power, especially over water and weather.
On race day at the harbor, all the boats have a carved dragon head on their bows. As a final touch, to wake up their team’s boat, the boy paints in the dragon’s eye. But once the race is underway, their team’s dragon boat is in last place. How can they wake their dragon?
Short Description
On the night before the Dragon Boat Festival, a young boy asks his grandfather how the dragon boat races first began. His grandfather tells him that legend has it that the races started in the ancient time of the Dragon King, when every lake and river had a guardian dragon. In Chinese culture, dragons symbolize good luck, and have great power, especially over water and weather. On race day at the harbor, all the boats have a carved dragon head. As a final touch, to wake up their team's boat, the boy paints in the dragon's eye. But once the race is underway, their boat is in last place. How can they wake their dragon?
Libraries seeking additions to collections that include ethnic history and Chinese experience will especially welcome this early introduction to an iconic tradition.
This hardcover edition from Sleeping Bear Press will prove to be of immense and enduring popularity for family, elementary school, and community library Asian mythology/festival/holiday collections for children ages 5-8
A Chinese grandfather enthralls his grandson in this lightly fantastical work about a traditional celebration...Wong’s finely detailed illustrations gesture at deep intergenerational affection while combining the detailed wonders of the dragon story with the day-of thrill of the race.
VERDICT A vibrant, joyful ride from start to finish! Perfect for collections with patrons looking to dive into the Dragon Boat Festival tradition.
Christina Matula’s The Beat of the Dragon Boat...enjoys vivid, impressive illustrations by Nicole Wong as it follows a young boy’s education about the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival.
