The Quest for a Tangram Dragon

by Christine Liu-Perkins, Lynn Scurfield (Illustrator)

A clever and charming introduction to the Tangram puzzle, a classic Chinese shape puzzle that's beloved in early math curriculum.A brave Little Triangle seeks a Chinese dragon to end the long drought. On the quest, Little Triangle meets other shapes who want to help. Using the magic of tangrams, the shapes do amazing things Two triangles flip and flap to make a butterfly! With a square, they swap and swivel to make a bat! Four shapes jump and bump to become a bird.But there's still no sign of the dragon they need.When they reach a mountain, no matter how much they hop and plop, huddle and muddle, or leap and heap, the shapes can't find a way to the top. How will they ever find the dragon they're searching for? Author Christine Liu-Perkins and illustrator Lynn Scurfield celebrate tangrams in in this clever and warm-hearted story about the power of persistence and teamwork.The book includes tangram shapes for readers to cut out, so they can play with their very own tangram puzzle!

Genres: Picture Books, Mathematics, Childrens, Stem, Dragons

40 pages, Hardcover

Published August 20, 2024

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really creative storytelling

[Carolyn Combs · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Quest for a Tangram Dragon, written by Christine Liu-Perkins and illustrated by Lynn Scurfield, is a playful and ingenious STEAM adventure story set in China.

The adventure begins when Little Triangle sets out to find a dragon, a good dragon who will bring rain during a drought. During the journey, Little Triangle bumps into another triangle and then, in turn, a square, a parallelogram, and three more triangles of various sizes. Each one agrees to help in the search. Through trial and error, the shapes discover that together, they can form numerous configurations, some of which help them overcome the obstacles in their path and ultimately lead to success. The illustrations are a vibrant juxtaposition of geometrical shapes and natural landscapes created with a combination of traditional and digital media. An author’s note explains tangrams, their history and uses, the cultural significance of the animals in the story, and invites the reader to play.

I love Little Triangle’s positive spirit and desire to help, the atmospheric illustrations, the examples of problem-solving through trial and error and teamwork, and the fun, lyrical language, including some phrases in Mandarin Chinese. It’s part narrative and part active nonfiction, as readers come away with an activity to try at home or school. Share this world of imagination, play, and skill-building with children ages 5-8.

[Amanda Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Quest for a Tangram Dragon is one of the most inventive books I have read recently. How do you convey geometry in a story? How can you make it accessible, interesting, and interactive for a young reader? Christine Liu-Perkins has done just that. A small triangle is on a quest to find a dragon to bring water to the parched land. It meets another small triangle and together they become a butterfly. Soon they add a square, then a parallelogram and then larger triangles. At each meeting, they find different ways to combine and create new creatures. These seven playful shapes become constantly changing characters, taking the reader’s mind on flights of fancy and imagination. We experience geometry viscerally as they mingle and meld and become fun personalities.
Lynn Scurfield’s illustrations frame our bright protagonists in an evocative Chinese setting that seems to encourage even more storytelling. Tangrams are provided on the cover flaps to cut out. I can’t wait to create my own tangram stories and scenarios with my favorite young reader!

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Math teachers often don’t realize that their school library can be a resource for them as well as their ELA, Social Studies and Science teacher and this book is just one examples of just that.

Author Christine Liu-Perkins creates a story of a dragon bringing rain to a thirsty land with a myriad of tangram creations that readers/listens can reproduce on their own. (For those who purchase this book for individual/home use, there are paper tangram shapes included on the dust jacket.) Liu’s guidance making shapes is likely to encourage children to develop their own shapes and use their imaginations to interact with them, possibly developing stories of their own which makes this an outstanding book to use in a cross-curricular manner. Back matter on the history of tangrams extends the use of this book into Social Studies.

Excellent resource for school libraries not only for its cross-curricular uses, but for the fun that is sure to accompany its reading.

Thanks for providing me with a review copy, Bloomsbury Children’s Books and Christine Liu-Perkins

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had never heard of tangrams - seven geometric shapes (two small triangles, one medium triangle, two large triangles, one square, and one parallelogram) that can be formed into literally thousands of patterns - until I encountered this delightful book. As author Christine Liu-Perkins and illustrator Lynn Scurfield take their adorably personified shapes through a quest to find a dragon to bring rain to a drought-stricken land, young readers will enjoy seeing the wealth of possibilities here for puzzle-solving, artmaking, and storytelling. I recently attended a workshop given by the author, where kids had a chance to make all the tangram figures from the story as well as some of their own invention. The children (of all ages) were enthralled, and their grownups equally absorbed. The endpapers are filled with additional tangram ideas, and the oversized back jacket flap offers the chance to produce a cut-your-own tangram set. Hours of fun await!

[Laura Gehl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a cute, clever story! Starting with one small triangle, a variety of brightly-colored shapes team up to make different forms--a butterfly, a fish, etc. But they really need a dragon! As an adult, I could see the ending coming (that the shapes would end up forming a dragon). I don't know if kids would guess the ending or not, but it really doesn't matter. Even though I correctly predicted the ending, I still found the book captivating all the way through and was thoroughly charmed and excited when the dragon finally appeared/formed. This is an amazing introduction to tangrams that will surely have young readers wanting to make their own tangrams when they finish the book. A surefire hit!

[Brigid Farrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my new favorite picture book, I will definitely be reading it at a Math/Shapes storytime, and I will be SHOCKED if it doesn't win a Mathicle award this year. Shocked and very, very sad.

A little tangram triangle wants it to rain and goes in search of a dragon. Along the way, it finds the other tangram pieces, and together they assemble new tangram shapes to travel and keep looking for that dragon.

Very smartly done, and it will definitely lead to children being very interested in playing with tangrams. You could easily then make an extension with tangrams and do all the different animals and figures in the books, including the dragon at the end.

The illustrations are beautiful, with bright, bold colors.

[Kerry Aradhya · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun, clever, and creative picture book! On the very first page, I learned that Chinese dragons bring rain (not fire, like the Western dragons so many people are more familiar with). Readers will also meet a little blue Triangle in search of a dragon to "bring rain to the thirsty land" in China -- where the tangram puzzle originated many years ago. Kids will love following little Triangle through this story, meeting the other six shapes that make up a typical seven-piece tangram, and seeing how they problem solve their way to a wonderfully surprising ending. A great book for inspiring creativity, collaboration, and perseverance. Highly recommend!

[Stephanie Bearce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brave Little Triangle is on a quest to save his land from a terrible drought. The only way he can succeed is if he can find a Chinese dragon, but a quest so big requires the help of some friends. In this charming tale, the shapes of a tangram come to life and work together to travel the country in search of the elusive dragon.
This is the perfect book for teachers and parents to use to introduce children to tangrams and the math concepts of shapes and puzzles. Your children will keep playing with the tangrams and making up their own adventures long after you read the book. Prepare to read this one over and over again!

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this new tangram book. Little Triangle is concerned about the drought in its land and sets out toseek the dragon--a mythical creature said to control rain according to Chinese legends. As she sets out on her quest, she meets other shapes adnt ogether, they form into creatures to help scour the air, land, and water for the elusive dragon. The quest becomes more interesting as more and more shapes join Little Triangle. Little hands will enjoy moving previously cut shapes to form animals.

A great addition to any preschool or primary Math classroom.

[Roxanne Troup · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am fascinated with this story illustrating tangrams to kids. Little Triangle is determined to find a dragon to bring rain to the thirsty land of China. One by one, Little Triangle gathers other shapes to create various tangrams (from fish to other animals) that speed over the land/sea in search. Very clever. Nonfiction backmatter offers more information about the history of tangrams and invites readers to participate in creating their own. Perfect book to introduce geometry and encourage creative problem solving.

[Megan Clendenan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this clever and charming book! This was my first introduction to the Chinese Tangram puzzle, and it is so intriguing. What a wonderful and fun way to have kids learn about geometry, shapes, cooperation, problem-solving, and flexible thinking, all while following an adorable cast of shape characters on their quest for the tangram dragon. After reading this, kids will be inspired to think creatively about shapes. This book is a definite must-buy for classrooms, libraries and at home.

[Lisa Varchol Varchol · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a unique and captivating way to introduce young readers to the tangram! I loved Little Triangle's determination and persistence in gathering other shapes, one by one, to search for a dragon to bring rain. The illustrations cleverly capture the shapes' personalities and transformations, and the back matter offers additional interesting information about Chinese culture and tangrams. A wonderful addition to any home, school, or library!

[Audrey Sauble · Rating 5 out of 5]

One day, in the middle of a drought, a small triangle sets out to find a dragon who can bring back the rain. On the way, the triangle meets another triangle, and then a square. As each new friend joins the quest, the shapes have to figure how to travel together, creating new animal shapes as their group grows and changes.

This is a fun story full of creative surprises. I highly recommend reading—as well as making or finding a tangram set for kids to play with along side the story.

[Bozhena Levine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Bloomsbury Children’s for the advanced electronic review copy of this delightful book! This is a wonderful introduction to tangram as well as a story about perseverance and working together to achieve a goal. Beautiful, colourful illustrations greatly add to the story. Can’t wait to use this fun book with my students!

[Christine Zandt · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a clever way to incorporate learning about shapes with a fun, easy-going story. The tangram is a Chinese shape puzzle that young kids love to explore. In addition to some math elements, the text reinforces how teamwork is a plus using cute personified shapes as the main characters of the story who undertake this monumental quest.

[Beth Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this story of tangram shapes filled with imagination, agency, cooperation and more! What a great way to explore geometry, puzzles, and story telling. Kids will surely delight in all the possibilities and create their own solutions using tangram pieces. A story that will lead to so much more creative play!

[Ashley Urquhart]

This is a cute little book with a simple story and a beginner’s introduction to tangrams. I was amazed by all the different configurations and my son enjoyed using the included tangrams (from the dust jacket) to try making his own shapes.

Note: I received an advanced copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Leslie Barnard Booth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness! I love this book so much. This is a must-have for classroom and home. This introduction to the Chinese Tangram puzzle is also so much more. It engages children's interest in shapes and animals, while teaching flexible thinking, creative problem-solving, and collaboration. Few children's books introduce geometry and design as well as this engaging and satisfying story.

[Sarah Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This 2025 Mathical Book Prize demonstrates how math, art, and literature work together in such a beautiful way. The tantrum shapes are depicted in fun and adorable ways. And the background art settings are super high quality. Any kid would enjoy looking at this book by themselves or with an adult. And it could be a great conversation starter about math and artistic concepts.

[Martha Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A clever story, Chinese culture, good brain exercise, and some geometry, too! How often can you say all that about one book? My granddaughters, 6 and 3, were thoroughly engaged, and so was I. A good multigenerational activity as well.

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love all the different tangram-built shapes and critters along the way (even those that are just transitional, not in the story). And I like the idea of building up from just one tangram to all seven!

[Pinky · Rating 4 out of 5]

It takes quite a few shapes to make a dragon.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cool and wonderfully creative story combines shape recognition, art/creativity, and culture to create a fun story that will have kids creating their own shape artwork!

[Laura Salas · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun story to use with your students in math class when you start working with tangrams! It's also a lovely story about teamwork, and it's sure to spark kids' creativity.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun picture book to use in math with tangrams.

[Jeani · Rating 3 out of 5]

A ringing endorsement from my 8 year old!

[Christine Barth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun implications for classroom use, especially if the kids had their own tangrams to play with.

[Joey Gaudino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creative!

[Azalea Yates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have baby girl make the tangran shapes to follow along with the story!