Sim Chung and the River Dragon

by Ellen Schecter

Sim Chung will do anything to help her father regain his sight--even dare to enter the underwater kingdom of the fierce river dragon. This beloved Korean folktale about a brave and beautiful young girl is perfect for the early independent reader.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

ELLEN SCHECTER has been published widely in print and on the web. Many of her books are for children, and her first novel, The Big Idea [Hyperion] won the Américas Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature. She’s written and collaborated on multiple-award-winning TV for PBS, Disney, CBS, and the Discovery Channel. Not bad for someone who never grew up.

Excepts from her new memoir, Fierce Joy, have been published online on ducts.org, Lilith magazine, and the University of Virginia Medical Arts Journal.

Check out the great reviews of her latest book, FIERCE JOY, at faboverfify: best memoirs of the year so far [faboverfifty.com/bookblog/2012/04]; New York Review of Books: Laura Schultz, in the New York Journal of Books:
“Ellen Schecter creates a visual symphony with her extraordinary command of the unique language of the soul.”
In “Diagnosis Is Not Death,” a review in Tablet by Sarah Ivry: “Illness does not always rob us of our spirit …and Schecter…finds in Judaism a sense of nurturing that… she didn’t realize she craved….I not only want to make peace with my illness, I want to sanctify it."

Reviews

[Stephanie]

Read this because I absolutely love The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh.

[TheAccidental Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple language, story a bit more complex. Nice drawings.

[Nadina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this having read another story based on Sim Chung and the dragon.
It was simply told and easy to follow. I liked the illustrations and the way the story was broken into chapters in this easy to read children's retelling.
I would probably recommend this to others, but dependent on what they are searching for, not as a general beginning reader book to pick up and read.

[Medina · Rating 5 out of 5]

love happy endings))))

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

My daughter and I read this as part of her South Korea unit study for homeschool. We both enjoyed this South Korean folktale. It reminded me of the story Beauty and the Beast in a lot of ways.

[Karen Bessin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A retelling of a Korean folktale about a daughter who faces a dragon to demonstrate courage, respect, and loyalty. Illustrated by June Otani. (Genre: Folktale easy reader. Ages 6-9)

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found my copy at Thriftbooks.com. It's a lovely folktale that really shows the value of family. While it focuses on filial piety, it really goes beyond that and can transcend cultures. Sim Chung's father is blind, and to restore his sight she agrees to marry the river dragon. Eventually she is reunited with her father, restores his vision, and takes her family from poverty to wealthy.

[Cws]

JEAR3-Sch

[Tonks · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a folk tale so it has an odd plot that may not resonate with kids. I just read it because it's about Korea. Beautiful illustrations.