Dragon Dancer

Dragon Dancer tells the story of a boy, Yao, who is preparing to wake Shen Long, the dragon, for the Chinese New Year celebration that will be happening that evening. Told in fantastic language, with the repetitive rhythmic cries of "BOOM BOOM BOOM" and "NOW NOW NOW", the story draws the reader in, layering magic on top of real life. However, the true stand out of this picture book are the stunning illustrations by artist Jeremy Pailler. Pailler's watercolor pictures breathe life into the story and will leave readers pouring over the images long after the words are over. A strong recommendation.

It is the eve of Chinese New Year and it is time for Yao to wake Shen Long, the sky dragon. Yao's grandfather used to be a dragon dancer, who would collect and dispell the bad luck that had accumulated over the previous year. The story is told from the perspective of Yao, the dragon dancer. To be sucessful as a dancer, you must feel the dragon is alive and that is the way Yao tells the story. You can feel the magic of the dragon as you read this story and gaze at the beautiful and exotic illustrations. The last page of the book gives a brief overview of Chinese New Year celebrations. A great book to add to a library about holidays, muli-culturalism and customs around the world. My grandson loved the illustrations in this book and wanted to know if he could be a dragon dancer. A great addition to a school or public library or even a family collection.

As the Lunar New Year approaches, a Singaporean boy named Yao waits to awaken the sky dragon, Shen Long. When he does, Yao will go on a magical adventure with the dragon, dancing the bad luck of the previous year away, and bringing in the good luck for a prosperous new year.

Originally released in the UK by Lantana Publishing in 2015, Dragon Dancer is a gorgeous book that draws on ancestry, legend, and tradition for Lunar New Year reading. The text pulses with the energy of the dragon dance, the art coming alive from the page as the dragon writhes, corkscrews, and spins away misfortune and welcomes in prosperity. The background pages remain starkly white, allowing the brilliant colors to spring off the page and into readers' imaginations. The music in the story urges dragon and dancer on, and draws the reader into the narrative: you can feel the drums pounding, the cymbals clashing, the crowds cheering. Yao thinks of his grandfather, hoping for his strength and guidance as he prepares to wake Shen Yao, and the dragon praises his skills as a dragon dancer. A note from the author provides a bit of personal experience of the New Year celebration. This one's a definite purchase for my holiday collection.

Dragon Dancer is beautifully told. It incorporates the history of the Chinese celebration, the traditions that are passed from generation to generation, and the myth of good and bad luck. The story mirrors the dragon dance itself, begins quietly, crescendos into a wild swirl of color and noise, and then settles down after its purpose is done. The pictures are vibrant with color and takes the shape of the dragon moving across the page. This book would be an excellent read aloud for 1st to 4th grade students who are learning about Chinese New Year.