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kindredbooks's review against another edition
5.0
I received a copy of The Truth about Dragons by Julie Leung and illustrated by Hanna Cha from Mac Kids in exchange for an honest review.
This beautifully illustrated picture book follows the storytelling of a mother and her young boy as she narrates his journey into two different forests. In each, he comes upon a wise grandmotherly figure who tells him the truth about dragons - both ferocious and powerful - yet of different worlds. Despite their differences, the two are able to coexist and together, form the most magic, wondrous world in which so much is possible. The two different grandmothers represent the grandmothers of the little boy as he shares two different cultures and is able to learn, dream, and exist in both.
I really enjoyed this story as it explored the mythical world of the west and the east. The illustrations really complement the story and styles of the two and there's a beautiful meeting of the two at the end where the boy is embraced by both dragons and cultures that he belongs to.
This beautifully illustrated picture book follows the storytelling of a mother and her young boy as she narrates his journey into two different forests. In each, he comes upon a wise grandmotherly figure who tells him the truth about dragons - both ferocious and powerful - yet of different worlds. Despite their differences, the two are able to coexist and together, form the most magic, wondrous world in which so much is possible. The two different grandmothers represent the grandmothers of the little boy as he shares two different cultures and is able to learn, dream, and exist in both.
I really enjoyed this story as it explored the mythical world of the west and the east. The illustrations really complement the story and styles of the two and there's a beautiful meeting of the two at the end where the boy is embraced by both dragons and cultures that he belongs to.
lauren_miller's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
I was NOT expecting to tear up... This is such a beautiful little metaphor about growing up biracial and the fact that you can embrace both identities together instead of choosing just one💚 And the illustrations are GORGEOUS! I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy.
whitecat5000's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
3.0
A nice reflective story that shows that different cultures have different beliefs and that neither one is wrong; they're just different.
nairam1173's review
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
4.0
Beautiful exploration of multiculturalism and biracial identity through a magical, folkloric lens, which, now that I've seen it, feels like one of the best lenses possible.
roseleaf24's review against another edition
4.0
What a sweet story, with gorgeous illustrations. This book introduces both dominant versions of dragons and allows a young boy to claim both.
librarydreams's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book is beautiful! First, Leung's use of the different interpretations of dragons in Eastern and Western stories as a metaphor for being biracial is brilliant. Cha's illustrations take this book to the next level. Every page is detailed and gorgeous! I loved how she confined the pictures within a frame during the Western parts of the story, and then has the child literally step out of the frame as he explores the Eastern part. She also distinguishes the two worlds with contrasting color palettes. Honestly, this book is worth reading for the pictures alone.
bickie's review against another edition
4.0
Beautiful book about holding two conflicting truths at the same time. A mother tells her child about the two pathways in his heart, provided by his two grandmothers, that lead to the "truth about dragons." These two different truths are based in western European and Chinese mythology, and the pathways both match these storytelling traditions.
The child's gender is not clear in the text, which uses the 2nd person. The illustrations show a child with short hair and pants. The book jacket describes the child using he/him pronouns.
The story describing the western European pathway, which is told first, uses words and phrases such as "sturdiest boots," "gnarled groves," "trickles," "encounter mischievous hobgoblins," "peer," "demanding trinkets," "speak briefly," "glowing will-o'-the-wisps," "gentle whispers lure," "humble...cottage," "perched on stilts," and "boggy swamp," "cedar chests," and "cauldron." The Chinese pathway story is a little less dense with possibly challenging language, with words and phrases such as "jagged mountaintops," "dwells," "delicate porcelain bowl," and "embedded."
The child's gender is not clear in the text, which uses the 2nd person. The illustrations show a child with short hair and pants. The book jacket describes the child using he/him pronouns.
The story describing the western European pathway, which is told first, uses words and phrases such as "sturdiest boots," "gnarled groves," "trickles," "encounter mischievous hobgoblins," "peer," "demanding trinkets," "speak briefly," "glowing will-o'-the-wisps," "gentle whispers lure," "humble...cottage," "perched on stilts," and "boggy swamp," "cedar chests," and "cauldron." The Chinese pathway story is a little less dense with possibly challenging language, with words and phrases such as "jagged mountaintops," "dwells," "delicate porcelain bowl," and "embedded."
intensej's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
The artwork in this book was beautiful. The mom in the book encourages her son to go to two different wise women (his grandmothers) to learn about dragons. His grandmothers talk about two very different dragons. The young boy in the book is a biracial child and the dragons can serve as metaphors for the two different cultures that live inside of him.
rebeccareadinstead's review against another edition
4.5
A meeting of Eastern and Western dragon mythologies.
AAPI picture book winner 2024
AAPI picture book winner 2024