The Truth About Dragons
- Amazon now offers The Truth About Dragons picture book, currently priced at $11.39 (originally $19.99).
- Prime members get free two-day shipping, and regular members get free shipping on orders over $35 within the contiguous U.S.
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Editor's Pick: This new book, published in 2023, won the prestigious Caldecott Honor and the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature last year. It's suitable for children ages 4-8. I really want to recommend this book to everyone.
It's especially great for Chinese-American kids and mixed-race children living in the U.S. The story is set as a mother telling a bedtime story to her mixed-race son. Two different kinds of dragons—Chinese dragons and Western dragons—are both called "dragon," but they have different appearances, habitats, and characteristics. Cultural collision happens here. However, this collision doesn't appear as conflict, which might make young readers feel unsafe; instead, it's a harmonious blend of two cultures. The book ends with a close-up of the little boy's bedside photo, showing him with his Chinese grandmother and American grandmother, both loving him—touching and thought-provoking. This book helps ABC kids embrace cross-cultural harmony without losing confidence or feeling inferior.
Take a close look at the cover. On the left is an Eastern dragon, with a bamboo forest background. On the right is a Western dragon, with a forest background. The author, Julie Leung, is a Chinese-American with a mixed-race child.
