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Amy Wu #2
Amy Wu and the Patchwork Dragon
In this sweet and brightly illustrated picture book, Amy Wu must craft a dragon unlike any other to share with her class at school in this unforgettable follow-up to Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao.
Amy loves craft time at school. But when her teacher asks everyone to make their own dragon, Amy feels stuck. Her first dragon has a long, wingless body, stag-like horns, and eagle claws, but her friends don’t think it’s a real dragon. Then she makes dragons like theirs, but none of them feels quite right...None of them feels like hers.
After school, a story from Grandma sparks new inspiration, and Amy rounds up her family to help her. Together, can they make Amy’s perfect dragon?
Amy loves craft time at school. But when her teacher asks everyone to make their own dragon, Amy feels stuck. Her first dragon has a long, wingless body, stag-like horns, and eagle claws, but her friends don’t think it’s a real dragon. Then she makes dragons like theirs, but none of them feels quite right...None of them feels like hers.
After school, a story from Grandma sparks new inspiration, and Amy rounds up her family to help her. Together, can they make Amy’s perfect dragon?
40 pages, Hardcover
First published December 15, 2020
About the author
Kat Zhang
26 books946 followers*Please do not message me through Goodreads! Instead, email me at katzhang3 AT gmail DOT com. I don't get on Goodreads often to check messages! Thank you :) *
Kat Zhang spent most of her childhood tramping through a world weaved from her favorite stories and games. When she and her best friend weren't riding magic horses or talking to trees, they were writing adaptations of plays for their stuffed animals (what would The Wizard of Oz have been like if the Cowardly Lion were replaced by a Loquacious Lamb?). This may or may not explain many of Kat's quirks today.
By the age of twelve, Kat had started her first novel and begun plans for her life as a Real Live Author (she was rather more confident at twelve than she is even now). Said plans didn't come into fruition until seven years later, when her agent sold her Young Adult trilogy, The Hybrid Chronicles, to HarperCollins. The series, about a parallel universe where everyone is born with two souls, concluded in 2014.
Her two upcoming Middle Grade novels will be released in 2017 and 2018 with Simon & Schuster. The first, The Emperor's Riddle, is about hidden treasure, lost aunts, and China. The second, The Memory of Forgotten Things, is about parallel universes (again), solar eclipses, and misfit children.
Kat is represented by Emmanuelle Morgen of Stonesong. She also contributes to Pub(lishing) Crawl, a site for aspiring writers to talk about books, storytelling craft, and the publishing process.
Kat Zhang spent most of her childhood tramping through a world weaved from her favorite stories and games. When she and her best friend weren't riding magic horses or talking to trees, they were writing adaptations of plays for their stuffed animals (what would The Wizard of Oz have been like if the Cowardly Lion were replaced by a Loquacious Lamb?). This may or may not explain many of Kat's quirks today.
By the age of twelve, Kat had started her first novel and begun plans for her life as a Real Live Author (she was rather more confident at twelve than she is even now). Said plans didn't come into fruition until seven years later, when her agent sold her Young Adult trilogy, The Hybrid Chronicles, to HarperCollins. The series, about a parallel universe where everyone is born with two souls, concluded in 2014.
Her two upcoming Middle Grade novels will be released in 2017 and 2018 with Simon & Schuster. The first, The Emperor's Riddle, is about hidden treasure, lost aunts, and China. The second, The Memory of Forgotten Things, is about parallel universes (again), solar eclipses, and misfit children.
Kat is represented by Emmanuelle Morgen of Stonesong. She also contributes to Pub(lishing) Crawl, a site for aspiring writers to talk about books, storytelling craft, and the publishing process.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
January 14, 2021
Amy Wu and the Patchwork Dragon is about a little girl who wants to make a dragon... her own way. When Amy's class learns about dragons, their teacher has them create their own. But Amy's doesn't exactly look like all the others, and she ends up not handing one in. Then her grandmother tells her about the dragons from their culture, and Amy knows exactly what she needs to do to make her dragon her own.
The story and illustrations are both pretty cute. Like its predecessor, this book adds some cultural flavour to a story about confidence. There's a small activity in the back of this book, and while it isn't as fun (or tasty) as making bao, it could be fun for kids. I also liked the inclusion of the explanation of the difference between Eastern and Western dragons.
Overall, this is a fairly strong picture book. Kids who like dragons will probably enjoy this, even if they're only familiar with the Western type.
Quotable moment:
The story and illustrations are both pretty cute. Like its predecessor, this book adds some cultural flavour to a story about confidence. There's a small activity in the back of this book, and while it isn't as fun (or tasty) as making bao, it could be fun for kids. I also liked the inclusion of the explanation of the difference between Eastern and Western dragons.
Overall, this is a fairly strong picture book. Kids who like dragons will probably enjoy this, even if they're only familiar with the Western type.
Quotable moment:
January 9, 2024
Very pleasant picture book that is part of a series about young Amy Wu.
Amy struggles with a class craft assignment to make a representation of a dragon, but perseverance and help from friends and family win the day.
Amy struggles with a class craft assignment to make a representation of a dragon, but perseverance and help from friends and family win the day.
June 30, 2021
SO GOOD.
This is a magical, beautiful and heartwarming story.
Amy Wu and her family's culture and heritage are steeped within this story; empowering Amy to embrace her identity, feel comfortable being her authentic self and sharing it with others.
The illustrations, story and representation is 100000/10. I need this for my own library! Can't wait to read 'Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao' next!
This is a magical, beautiful and heartwarming story.
Amy Wu and her family's culture and heritage are steeped within this story; empowering Amy to embrace her identity, feel comfortable being her authentic self and sharing it with others.
The illustrations, story and representation is 100000/10. I need this for my own library! Can't wait to read 'Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao' next!
June 17, 2021
Amy is listening to a story her teacher is reading about dragons with her class, and the children become wild for dragons. Amy’s teacher gives the children time to make dragons, and Amy is delighted with her dragon with a long, thin body and horns like a stag and claws like an eagle, but the other children don’t think that’s what a dragon looks like. Amy sets them straight with her family’s help, and we all learn a little more about the dragons of the world.
Lots of lovely themes in this book to share with children.
Lots of lovely themes in this book to share with children.
September 22, 2025
Interesting book that would make an interesting library program.
February 11, 2024
Amy Wu creates a unique dragon, different from everyone else's traditional ones. With her grandma's help, she discovers her creativity. I enjoyed this story by Kat Zhang and recommend it for reading to kids. The illustrations are brilliant too.
June 29, 2022
A fun, bright picture book about the indomitable Amy Wu making a dragon for school. Amy has grown up with eastern dragons, which are very different from the western dragons that populate her classmates' imaginations. Without being preachy or annoying (and with little external conflict), the narrative demonstrates how Amy expands her classroom's understanding of dragons by making and displaying an eastern-style dragon. Children who experience a conflict between cultures will find resonance in this story, as there is an emphasis on sharing across cultures and making one's culture one's own. Her family helps Amy is a sweet character and I wouldn't turn down the chance to read the other picture books about her.
October 29, 2021
Standing up yourself when others don't understand or worse make fun, now that's impressive! Amy Wu knows what she believes and what she feels; how can she show what is in her heart to the rest of the class? Thankfully she has good friends and a most excellent family to help her out along with some crafty creativity coming to the rescue! And GLITTER! Lots of GLITTER! Woohoo!
Extra love for cute illustrations and for the discussion at the back of book with talking points on the differences between Easter and Western dragons as well as a craft.
Extra love for cute illustrations and for the discussion at the back of book with talking points on the differences between Easter and Western dragons as well as a craft.
August 6, 2021
Love Amy Wu!! Love that this dragon book exists! Creativity, Community, Culture, Collaboration, Celebration - it's all here.
April 9, 2024
good for exploring styles of dragons/Chinese culture
February 6, 2023
PopSugar 2023 reading challenge #5
At the beginning of this book, Amy’s class is listening to the teacher read a story about dragons. The kids are then asked to draw dragons as an activity after the story; Amy draws what one would call a ‘traditional Chinese dragon’ and the kids in her class question if it is a dragon or not. Amy actually goes home having not finished her dragon drawing. Her grandmother then tells her traditional Chinese stories about dragons (in which we see, through the illustrations, that Amy knows exactly what a dragon looks like). She makes a giant patchwork dragon and then brings it to the school to explain to the other students what Chinese dragons look like. Now, we have learned the difference between Eastern and Western dragons.
How to Use This Book: I would use this book exactly as the story does – talk to students about dragons, ask them to draw dragons, and then discuss the different kinds of dragons that exist. Ideally, there would be all kinds of different dragons. This could also be used as a general example of Chinese children’s literature.
Personal Response: The Amy Wu series is truly becoming one of my favorite examples of children’s picture books that represent diversity. It is true that there are some potential stereotypes in these stories (food, dragons/festivals, etc.) but they are discussed in a respectful way, an engaging way, and ask the reader to be part of the story and to invite them into the culture to learn more. The illustrations are perfect for kids – great colors, easy to follow, and did I mention Amy has a cat sidekick?
At the beginning of this book, Amy’s class is listening to the teacher read a story about dragons. The kids are then asked to draw dragons as an activity after the story; Amy draws what one would call a ‘traditional Chinese dragon’ and the kids in her class question if it is a dragon or not. Amy actually goes home having not finished her dragon drawing. Her grandmother then tells her traditional Chinese stories about dragons (in which we see, through the illustrations, that Amy knows exactly what a dragon looks like). She makes a giant patchwork dragon and then brings it to the school to explain to the other students what Chinese dragons look like. Now, we have learned the difference between Eastern and Western dragons.
How to Use This Book: I would use this book exactly as the story does – talk to students about dragons, ask them to draw dragons, and then discuss the different kinds of dragons that exist. Ideally, there would be all kinds of different dragons. This could also be used as a general example of Chinese children’s literature.
Personal Response: The Amy Wu series is truly becoming one of my favorite examples of children’s picture books that represent diversity. It is true that there are some potential stereotypes in these stories (food, dragons/festivals, etc.) but they are discussed in a respectful way, an engaging way, and ask the reader to be part of the story and to invite them into the culture to learn more. The illustrations are perfect for kids – great colors, easy to follow, and did I mention Amy has a cat sidekick?
December 20, 2020
Amy Wu and the Patchwork Dragon is a children's picture book written by Kat Zhang and illustrated by Charlene Chua. It stars Amy Wu, a little girl, who wants to make the perfect dragon for craft time at school.
Zhang's text is simplistic and straightforward. It narrates Amy Wu's doubts about her design of a dragon for craft time and feels dissatisfied of the Western dragon she drew. Accompanied by her classmates Willa and Sam, Amy returns home to Grandma, who tells the trio tales about Asian dragons. Chua again brings plenty of colorful spirit with her cartoons, perfectly capturing Amy's fun, creative energy and surrounding her Chinese protagonist with a diverse school community.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. After reading them a story about dragons, Ms. Mary has Amy and her classmates design their own dragons. While her classmates quickly fill the show-and-tell table with winged, pot-bellied dragons fashioned with modeling clay and stamps, Amy struggles. At first she paints a thin, long-bodied dragon inspired by Eastern cultures, but her classmates are confused and challenge the authenticity of her creation since it is a departure from the Western dragons showcased during story time.
All in all, Amy Wu and the Patchwork Dragon is a cheerful and bright, this heroine calls for authenticity and representation.
Zhang's text is simplistic and straightforward. It narrates Amy Wu's doubts about her design of a dragon for craft time and feels dissatisfied of the Western dragon she drew. Accompanied by her classmates Willa and Sam, Amy returns home to Grandma, who tells the trio tales about Asian dragons. Chua again brings plenty of colorful spirit with her cartoons, perfectly capturing Amy's fun, creative energy and surrounding her Chinese protagonist with a diverse school community.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. After reading them a story about dragons, Ms. Mary has Amy and her classmates design their own dragons. While her classmates quickly fill the show-and-tell table with winged, pot-bellied dragons fashioned with modeling clay and stamps, Amy struggles. At first she paints a thin, long-bodied dragon inspired by Eastern cultures, but her classmates are confused and challenge the authenticity of her creation since it is a departure from the Western dragons showcased during story time.
All in all, Amy Wu and the Patchwork Dragon is a cheerful and bright, this heroine calls for authenticity and representation.
April 23, 2021
Amy Wu and her classmates learn about dragons from school. The dragons don't look like the ones she is used to. After seeming to fail a challenge to create a dragon of herself, her grandma, parents and classmates use some ingenuity and glitter to show off a really cool one-of-a-kind patchwork dragon.
Learn a bit about the difference between Eastern and Western cultural dragons and even make a dragon of your own with the craft guide at the back of the book.
Kat Zhang's narrative is simple and straightforward. Charlene Chua's illustrations are lush and vibrant in this fun picture book for families.
Learn a bit about the difference between Eastern and Western cultural dragons and even make a dragon of your own with the craft guide at the back of the book.
Kat Zhang's narrative is simple and straightforward. Charlene Chua's illustrations are lush and vibrant in this fun picture book for families.
November 16, 2021
This is a really fun picture book, and I like how it teaches the difference between Western dragons and Eastern dragons, especially for kids who might only ever have heard stories with Western-style dragons before.
January 30, 2021
now I want to make my own dragon uwu
September 27, 2024
4 - 8 years
Read for the Record 2021
https://www.jstart.org/jumpstarts-rea...
May 24, 2021
I want to be friends with Amy!! I LOVE this patchwork dragon that she creates....the homage to her heritage that she introduces her classroom to. Dragons don't always need to get a bad rap ;)
February 5, 2021
I really liked this one. I haven't read it to kids yet, because pandemic, but it definitely spoke to my dragon loving soul. I also appreciated the cultural note at the end.
April 16, 2021
Little Asian girl imagines her dragon to be of the eastern style. This is out of place from the popular Western style dragons. She crafts with her family one that suits her better. Cartoonish style pictures that are sure to appeal.
February 11, 2022
I love this book! Amy’s class gets to make dragons as a crafting activity, but Amy is having a tough time making just the perfect dragon.
Back matter explains the differences between Eastern and Western dragons and provides a dragon craft activity to do as well.
Back matter explains the differences between Eastern and Western dragons and provides a dragon craft activity to do as well.
December 30, 2020
Adorable. I'm loving the Amy Wu series!
September 27, 2023
I’m unsure as to what medium the illustrator used, but the humans look like a two-dimensional version of a Cabbage Patch doll. All the ethnicities have either a cute little blobby nose or a cute little perky nose. But the reader recognizes that Amy Wu is of Asian descent because she has yellow-toned skin and hooded eyes.
I didn’t care for the story either.
It would be one thing if Ms. Mary were simply reading a book about dragons.
But it’s uncomfortably myopic for her to create a classroom learning unit using only European based examples. Especially when the subject is dragons! Helloooo?
And where is Ms. Mary when Sam and Willa are disparaging Amy’s dragon?
(Also Kat’s dragon looks like a psychopathic clown - just sayin’ - but that one’s good enough for Sam and Willa.)
Only after Amy brings a phenomenal, cardboard and silk and glitter dragon with enormous wings, that’s so large it needs three children to make it “dance and roar through the classroom” does she feel she’s made a dragon good enough for her peers. And one that makes her feel “just right.”
(Also, this dragon is so elaborate she needed the help of her entire family.)
Amy’s first painting of her idea of a dragon is delightful. The story would have been much improved if Sam and Willa went home with Amy, learned about Eastern Dragons from Grandma, and then revised their versions of personal dragon art.
The font looks cheap and the randomly bolded words are problematic.
I didn’t care for the story either.
It would be one thing if Ms. Mary were simply reading a book about dragons.
But it’s uncomfortably myopic for her to create a classroom learning unit using only European based examples. Especially when the subject is dragons! Helloooo?
And where is Ms. Mary when Sam and Willa are disparaging Amy’s dragon?
(Also Kat’s dragon looks like a psychopathic clown - just sayin’ - but that one’s good enough for Sam and Willa.)
Only after Amy brings a phenomenal, cardboard and silk and glitter dragon with enormous wings, that’s so large it needs three children to make it “dance and roar through the classroom” does she feel she’s made a dragon good enough for her peers. And one that makes her feel “just right.”
(Also, this dragon is so elaborate she needed the help of her entire family.)
Amy’s first painting of her idea of a dragon is delightful. The story would have been much improved if Sam and Willa went home with Amy, learned about Eastern Dragons from Grandma, and then revised their versions of personal dragon art.
The font looks cheap and the randomly bolded words are problematic.
December 12, 2021
2021 Jumpstart Read for the Record
I bought this book specifically to incorporate it into a children's yoga session. I was not disappointed. It's about a girl who wants to make her own dragon, her own way.
Jumpstart does a great job adding background and pre-reading material at the front. I chose two vocab words to frontload and focused mainly on feelings throughout the book. Inferencing how the characters feel by looking at the pictures and asking how they would feel in these circumstances. We also answer the question: Do dragons have to look a certain way? There are different types of dragons mentioned in the book. Dragons that: hoard treasure, blow fire, fat belly, horns, claws, bring down rain, etc. All the verbs and adjectives made it easy to create a yoga flow. It's a super cute story with adorable illustrations.
The information pages detailing the differences between Eastern and Western dragons was amazing. I would definitely use that as a handout. There is also a dragon activity where you can, you guessed it, make your own dragon. Since we usually do a craft after our yoga exercise, this was perfect.
I bought this book specifically to incorporate it into a children's yoga session. I was not disappointed. It's about a girl who wants to make her own dragon, her own way.
Jumpstart does a great job adding background and pre-reading material at the front. I chose two vocab words to frontload and focused mainly on feelings throughout the book. Inferencing how the characters feel by looking at the pictures and asking how they would feel in these circumstances. We also answer the question: Do dragons have to look a certain way? There are different types of dragons mentioned in the book. Dragons that: hoard treasure, blow fire, fat belly, horns, claws, bring down rain, etc. All the verbs and adjectives made it easy to create a yoga flow. It's a super cute story with adorable illustrations.
The information pages detailing the differences between Eastern and Western dragons was amazing. I would definitely use that as a handout. There is also a dragon activity where you can, you guessed it, make your own dragon. Since we usually do a craft after our yoga exercise, this was perfect.
September 11, 2023
A teacher reads a book about dragons and then tells students to make a dragon. Most kids draw dragons that have wings and breathe fire and hoard treasure. Amy makes a long and skinny one without wings. At first other kids say it doesn't look like a dragon and Amy starts to doubt herself. She has friends who come over after school and her Grandma tells a different story and it reminds Amy she drew a dragon that her family had a costume for- so they go get it and dance around and her friends love it. Amy decides to make it her own and bring it to class the next day. The end of the book has two pages that talk about how Western dragons are usually fierce and greedy with scales and wings. Eastern dragons often don't breathe fire, are long and skinny, sometimes no wings, and have magic powers and are often considered wise and just. I loved the culture that is introduced here. A similarity- dragons with scales, and then differences. How Amy learns to be proud of her creation even though it was different than everyone else's. I think this would be an awesome book to read around Chinese New Year.
June 1, 2021
Amy's class reads about dragons and makes their own, but Amy's dragon doesn't look like the others. It doesn't have wings, and it has different horns, and a longer shape. Amy's friends says she did it wrong, but she knows she's seen a dragon like that. When she goes home she finds the source of her inspiration, and then creates her very own unique dragon for show and tell.
I like how this subtly celebrates kids who are a little bit of the East and a little bit of the West through the dragons in those cultures stories. A fantastic read for third culture kids or children of immigrants who feel like they don't completely belong in either culture but are a curious mix of both. This is also a great family story. I love how Amy's parents and Grandma help her with her project, and she and Grandma together share some of Eastern culture with her friends. Absolutely delightful for multiple reasons, including the fantastic and vibrant illustration. Highly recommended!
I like how this subtly celebrates kids who are a little bit of the East and a little bit of the West through the dragons in those cultures stories. A fantastic read for third culture kids or children of immigrants who feel like they don't completely belong in either culture but are a curious mix of both. This is also a great family story. I love how Amy's parents and Grandma help her with her project, and she and Grandma together share some of Eastern culture with her friends. Absolutely delightful for multiple reasons, including the fantastic and vibrant illustration. Highly recommended!
May 30, 2021
I love the message in Kat Zhang's Amy Wu and the Patchwork Dragon. In this sweet book, young Amy is at school with her friends. The teacher has just read a book about dragons and now the students are making their own. Amy paints a beautiful dragon, but it is nothing like anyone else's dragon. It has no wings. It doesn't breathe fire. It has a long, thin body instead of a bulbous one. The other students don't think it is a dragon, which makes Amy sad and she tries desperately to make one that feels right to her but is more like everyone else's. In truth, Amy has made a dragon like the ones that her grandmother has told her about in stories. What I love about this book is that while Amy initially wants to cast aside her culture and history, she doesn't feel right doing it and instead finds a way to make her culture's dragon even more like her.
October 16, 2024
"Amy Wu and the Patchwork Dragon" is a picture book written by Pacific Islander author named Kat Zhang . The book talks about a young girl named Amy who starts a creative journey with a dragon that represents her unique cultural heritage. Amy goes to school and the teacher asked her to make a dragon in her class. Amy and her friends are tasked with creating dragons, but Amy's dragon looks different from everyone else's. She struggles to make her dragon fit in, but with the help of her family and her imagination, Amy creates a beautiful patchwork dragon that reflects her own identity and traditions.
I loved the story and I will recommend it to all early childhood education teachers because the book can teach the students how can they celebrate their individuality, creativity, and the importance of
their cultural diversity.
I loved the story and I will recommend it to all early childhood education teachers because the book can teach the students how can they celebrate their individuality, creativity, and the importance of
their cultural diversity.
January 19, 2021
When Amy's class does an activity making their own dragons, some of the other kids aren't sure Amy's dragon *is* a dragon, because it doesn't look like the Western-style dragons they're familiar with. Amy tries drawing different dragons at first, but it just doesn't feel right to her. With a little help from her grandma, Amy's friends learn about Eastern dragons, and Amy makes her own patchwork dragon that ends up feeling just right. A wonderful, engaging book perfect for preschoolers and toddlers about celebrating your own culture as well as cultures different from your own. Informational note about Eastern and Western dragons at the back of the book, as well as an art activity.
Themes: Dragons, School, Be Yourself, Grandma
Age range: Toddler and preschool
Themes: Dragons, School, Be Yourself, Grandma
Age range: Toddler and preschool
March 18, 2021
Somehow I didn't like this as much as Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao, even though more actually happens in this book. But maybe that's just because I love a book about food :). My 3.5 year old enjoyed this one and was happy to see the Amy Wu family again. Does a good job of showing Amy's cognitive dissonance about European vs Chinese style dragons, and how she reconciles the two. I felt like it followed the same process as the first book in terms of the solution needing to be "Amy-ified" although in this one I don't feel like they gave enough sense of her like, commitment to sparkles to make the final dragon really resonate as being just the way she liked it. But a fun story and exploration of tradition and culture in a multicultural school environment.
March 22, 2021
I loved Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao, so I expected to enjoy this one as well. I was not disappointed! The story begins with Amy's teacher reading a story about dragons, specifically western dragons. When the children each make their own dragons during craft time, Amy's doesn't look like anyone else's. Later, her grandma tells stories about different kinds of dragons, and Amy finds a way to make on that feels "just right" to her. Dragon-loving kids will be particularly drawn to this story. The bright, colorful illustrations pop off the page and pull the reader in. Included in the back is an explanation of the differences between Eastern and Western dragons, and a fun craft activity. This is a wonderful story about dragons, creativity, and being true to yourself!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews