The Sons of the Dragon King: A Chinese Legend
Atheneum, 2004
The sons of the dragon king behave oddly, suggesting to observers naughty, flawed dispositions. Hearing their reports, the dragon king is dismayed and pays a visit to each of his sons. Although his first inclination was to scold, this father sees differently. The strange, curious, or obnoxious behaviors—like staring into the distance, playing with fire, or yelling and hollering all day long—could be put to good use. Wisely, the dragon king matches his sons' various habits to beneficial occupations. His example is instructive for those of us whose everyday chores include curbing our willful toddlers and headstrong children. Ed Young's note gives some background concerning dragons, their use in Chinese material culture, and his adaptation of this folktale. His illustrations combine lively dragons done in ink brush with more iconic, papercut-inspired representations of their decorative assignments.
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