The Sons of the Dragon King: A Chinese Legend

This would be a great book to read to young children. Loved the story line of a great King accepting the traits of his sons and showing them how to live wonderful lives. The story line was not that great but still I immensly enjoyed it and the drawings.

As any parent knows, each child comes with special talents and abilities that require nurturing. In "The Sons of the Dragon King," Ed Young retells and illustrates an ancient Chinese folktale in which a parent, the great Dragon King, struggles with his nine unique children, all sons. As he hears complaints about his sons from tutors and neighbors, the king realizes his sons are not living lives befitting their royal heritage. He sets out to chastise each of them, but instead recognizes the talents behind each son's activities and gives them jobs that celebrate and use each talent. For example, one son becomes the guardian of music, another the servant of justice, and another the protector of food preparation. When the tale is ended, the king is pleased with his sons and they are in turn happy with their assigned roles, continuing in them to this day when they are represented on instruments, doorways, rooftops, etc. The text and illustrations are better suited to older children, third grade and up, but the tale has great potential for reading aloud to slightly younger children. The tale will also resonate with parents and teachers as the king struggles to nurture his children's gifts and find their places in history. Overall, a highly recommended version of an ancient tale with modern applications.

Sons of the Dragon King is a timeless story of a parent understanding their children's unique talents. The ancient Chinese setting is a perfect foil for the wonderful brush and ink and cut paper illustrations Young so deftly wields. There is a lot of repetition in the text, which authenticates the tale and also makes it more appealing to younger readers. While an engaging read-alone for older 3rd graders and up, the book has many applications in the classroom: appreciating special needs, Chinese art, folklore, calligraphy, and architecture. It would be a great addition to any library.