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Chin Chiang and the Dragon's Dance
Winner of the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator Award
From the time Chin Chiang stood only as high as his grandfather's knees, he dreamed of dancing the dragon's dance. Now the first day of the Year of the Dragon has arrived, and Chin Chiang is so scared that he wants to melt into his shoes.
Chin Chiang is a most appealing small boy, whose plight will touch readers young and old.
From the time Chin Chiang stood only as high as his grandfather's knees, he dreamed of dancing the dragon's dance. Now the first day of the Year of the Dragon has arrived, and Chin Chiang is so scared that he wants to melt into his shoes.
Chin Chiang is a most appealing small boy, whose plight will touch readers young and old.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1984
1 person is currently reading
42 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 13, 2015
Read for my kid. He likes it. I switch the main character's name to his name and he enjoys it a great deal.
May 28, 2018
It was soon to be the new year - the first day of the Year of the Dragon - and Chin Chiang and his grandfather were to be the dancers with the extravagant dragon, his father inside the huge head and Chin Chiang maneuvering the colourful tail. But he was afraid he would fall and make everyone ashamed of him. He ran to a rooftop where he met a stranger who used to dance and who encouraged him. Beautiful illustrations.
November 29, 2019
Great story about developing confidence.
February 25, 2014
A lovely story of a young boy finding courage to be a seen in dancing action during the annual Dragon's Dance celebrating Chinese New Year's.
Chin Chiang feels the pressure of holding up the Dragon's tail, the main attraction during the street celebration, while dancing and his grandfather holds the Dragon's head. He is concerned he might fall and everyone will see leaving him feeling embarrassed in front of the community. Running away from his grandfather and the community is his solution, escaping to a building terrace.
There he makes an unexpected friend and with her help, presence and encouragement and the beat of the thundering drum, Chin Chiang found his courage and balance to dance in the ceremony.
I love the vibrant illustrations, the immersion into a Chinese New Year celebration, the sense of community and the young boy's development of inner strength.
My daughter and I used this story as part of our Chinese New Year learning and also as an example of where 'I can' can emerge from an 'I can't.'
Beautifully done, thank you Ian Wallace!
Chin Chiang feels the pressure of holding up the Dragon's tail, the main attraction during the street celebration, while dancing and his grandfather holds the Dragon's head. He is concerned he might fall and everyone will see leaving him feeling embarrassed in front of the community. Running away from his grandfather and the community is his solution, escaping to a building terrace.
There he makes an unexpected friend and with her help, presence and encouragement and the beat of the thundering drum, Chin Chiang found his courage and balance to dance in the ceremony.
I love the vibrant illustrations, the immersion into a Chinese New Year celebration, the sense of community and the young boy's development of inner strength.
My daughter and I used this story as part of our Chinese New Year learning and also as an example of where 'I can' can emerge from an 'I can't.'
Beautifully done, thank you Ian Wallace!
January 28, 2012
A contrived tale of a young boy who is supposed to dance the Dragon Dance for the Chinese New Year but has convinced himself he can't. When he's asked to practice with his grandfather who will be the head of the dragon, he runs away. He meets a woman who tells him that she used to dance the Dragon Dance but that now she's too old. He convinces her to help him practice. At first he's horrible, but he gets better as he relaxes into it.
Then the festival and parade begin. But the boy still refuses. Eventually he takes up the dragon's tail and begins to dance. He stumbles, but of course, recovers and keeps going. Along the way he grabs the woman who helped him dance and encourages her to dance. When she complains that she's too old the boy tells her, of course, that see? He's dancing, she can to.
Then the festival and parade begin. But the boy still refuses. Eventually he takes up the dragon's tail and begins to dance. He stumbles, but of course, recovers and keeps going. Along the way he grabs the woman who helped him dance and encourages her to dance. When she complains that she's too old the boy tells her, of course, that see? He's dancing, she can to.
September 30, 2013
I enjoyed this book and I believe that it would be a great book to read to a child who must face a difficult task in their life. This story follows a young boy that must learn a traditional dance and join his grandfather in dancing in a parade. The young boy, Chin Chiang, is very nervous but from help from friends and family, he gains enough courage to join his grandfather in the parade and ends up performing greatly. This story shows children the importance of living up to tasks and to always have faith and courage in yourself. The illustrations were very colorful and detailed and I felt they added a great element to the story.
January 27, 2014
I think this book actually helped Moira get over her fear of the dragon dances. She's certainly talking about different parts of the parade since we read it and she wanted to help people practice their dragon's dance before our little parade at our party.
December 6, 2010
* Long
* Maybe for 3rd-5th grades as individual reader
* Chin has a hard time learning to dance
* Pu Yee teaches him how
* Maybe for 3rd-5th grades as individual reader
* Chin has a hard time learning to dance
* Pu Yee teaches him how
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews