Unlike European dragons, who breathe fire and must be defeated, Chinese dragons are well-meaning mystical beasts who breathe clouds, often appear in human form and are frequent characters in ancient stories. Here are some books that show young children Eastern dragons. Not all will be easy to buy, so the links are not always to a bookseller.
In ancient China, the different tribes lived under the protection of benevolent spirits that took the form of animals. To this day, the dragon is a symbol of peace and plays an especially important role in the celebration of the Chinese New Year.
Follows a young child on a journey guided by his mother's bedtime storytelling. He quests into two very different forests, as his two grandmothers help him discover two different, but equally enchanting, truths about dragons.
Long ago, in a remote village in China, there lived a kind and generous little boy. He spent his days in the forest, collecting wood to trade for food. One day, the boy made a wondrous discovery: a magic pearl that caused his money jar and rice crocks to overflow, both of which he shared with the poor villagers. But strange things began to happen. It no longer rained. The crops died. The rivers dried up. A terrible, water-spewing Dragon, took his magic pearl on a journey--
It's only in the spring that Nian, a fierce dragon, is able to leave his mountain prison under the sea to terrorise the local village. When the villagers hear the rumblings of Nian's hungry stomach, they know that winter has ended and spring is coming. But this year on the night before the first day of spring, a magical warrior visits Mei in her dreams. He tells Mei that it is her destiny to face and defeat Nian. But she must do it within 15 days or the dragon will be free forever.
Tong tong! The legendary Nian monster has returned at Chinese New Year. With horns, scales, and wide, wicked jaws, Nian is intent on devouring Shanghai, starting with Xingling! The old tricks to keep him away don't work on Nian anymore, but Xingling is clever. Will her quick thinking be enough to save the city from the Nian Monster?
The kids at Amy’s school draw western-looking dragons, and when they say her (Eastern-looking), dragon doesn’t look like a dragon. At home, her grandmother tells her stories about dragons that bring down the rain, fly without wings, and are wise and just. Not only that, she lets Amy and her friends play with a dragon costume of an Eastern dragon.
Long is attending DragonSchool and his fire-breathing classmates cook with their fire. But there’s a problem. Long is a water dragon– and doesn’t have fire…no matter how hard he tries. He finally admits to his teacher that he is different, and that’s when he discovers his own path.
Set in China during the Spring Festival, otherwise known as Chinese New Year, the wily dragon will have to avoid trap after trap as the kids run through paper lanterns, red lunar envelopes, fireworks, and more!
• The Dream Dragon by Yvonne Winer and Stanley Wong
'High in the mountains, where mists hang like spider webs spun across the peaks, lived a dream dragon. On silent nights she tumbled into the dreams of the people in a remote village ... One night the dream dragon did not come. Not only is this ancient Chinese tale beautifully retold, with vividly clear and colourful imagery, the story is intrinsically a story of hope.'
• Gondra's Treasure by Linda Sue Park and Jennifer Black Reinhardt
Gondra has inherited traits from both her eastern (Asian) dragon dad and western (European) dragon mom and enjoys them all. She's especially happy that she's a combination of both.
The nine immortal sons of the Dragon King set out to make something of themselves, and each, with help from a watchful father, finds a role that suits his individual strengths.
Little Sima’s village in China was suffering from a 100 years without rain. Then a wizard gave the Sima family a giant porcelain bowl. He said this gang would turn their luck around. Sure enough, rain started to fall. But one day, Little Sima’s friend fell into the gang. Can Little Sima save his friend from drowning without stopping the rain?
Ying Shao must make three dangerous trips across the river dragon's bridge before he can marry the lovely Kal-Li.
A boy named Ping decorates his home with paintings of dragons. While they seem to be a proclamation of his love for dragons, they are actually an expression of his deepest fear. The Heavenly Dragon visits Ping after being impressed with the boy's outward declaration of love and respect for dragons and presents the boy with three pearls of wisdom.
Tells the story of Jasmine, a young girl who learns Chinese calligraphy from her Agong, or grandfather. As Jasmine learns how to paint the characters for dragon, fish, horse, friend, and more, she and Agong are magically transported to the wondrous world they are creating.
One day a messenger enters the village with terrible news: the dragon Sui Jen has awakened from its hundred years' sleep and is destroying everything in its path. Someone must find a way to return Sui Jen to its slumber. To the villagers, only one among them is wise enough to confront the scaly beast -- Mi Fei.
A dragon and a phoenix live on opposite sides of a magic river. One day they meet on an island and discover a shiny pebble. The dragon washes it and the phoenix polishes it until it becomes a pearl. Its brilliant light attracts the attention of the Queen of Heaven, and that night she sends a guard to steal it while the dragon and phoenix are sleeping.
• The Dragon Painter by Rosie Dickins
Chang paints the best animal pictures in all of China. But when it comes to dragons, he has a problem. Why is he afraid to paint in the dragons' eyes?
Meet Lin and her pet dragon! When the dragon mysteriously disappears, Lin sets off on a journey to find her best friend . . . and readers set off on a journey of learning and discovery. By ingeniously integrating written Chinese characters into the illustrations as the story progresses, Christoph Niemann has created a book that is engrossing, unique, and memorable. The Pet Dragon is a playful introduction to the fascinating world of Chinese language and culture .
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