BOOK REVIEWS

Title: Jin Jin the Dragon and
Jin Jin and Rain Wizard

Author: Grace Chang

"Jin Jin the Dragon is a delightful children's picturebook written by Beijing-born Grace Chang and illustrated by her brother Chong Chang. Jin Jin is a scaly golden creature who hatches and wonders what type of animal he is. He befriends a fish, an eagle, a lion, and many more animals, each of which has something in common with him — but he isn't quite like any of them. On his journey to meet the wise old turtle and crane, he discovers a terrible drought is afflicting the land, and saves the people with his wondrous ability to breathe water; proof that he is really a dragon!

"A gentle story grounded in ancient Chinese dragon myths, but presented in warm, contemporary terms and sure to be a hit with young dragon lovers everywhere."

     The Midwest Book Review

"Jin Jin, a scaly golden creature who hatches, doesn't know what he is. As he travels the forest, he becomes friends with many different animals and notices something in common with each: scales of the fish, claws of the eagle, pliable body of the snake, antlers of the deer, eyes like the hare. The animals tell him he needs to find Old Turtle and Crane, who will help him learn who he is. He follows clues (Chinese symbols) he finds as he searches and finally arrives at their village. Before they can help him, however, a farmer runs up to ask the pair for help with the drought which is killing the rice fields. Jin Jin discovers he has the ability to breathe water, which means he is a water-breathing dragon!

"This story of love and self-discovery introduces the reader to the Chinese dragons who are kind, curious, and utterly enchanting. The tone of the story and pictures have a traditional sense; while the words, muted but bright colors, and the animals' friendly faces bring the story into modern times. Information about Chinese writing is woven into the text as well as being the subject of the back-matter.

"A page about Chinese dragons is also included. This is a gentle introduction to Chinese writing and dragon lore and to the importance of following clues toward self-discovery.

"BIBLIO: 2007, Enchanted Lion Books, Ages 5 to 8, REVIEWER: Peg Glisson"

     Childrens Literature

"On a warm spring day a tiny golden creature hatches from a thousand-year-old egg. The golden creature talks to other animals, a fish, a snake, an Eagle, a deer, a hare and others, but none can tell him what type of creature he is. But the animals give him a name, Jin Jin, that means golden. Jin Jin goes in search of Old Turtle and Crane, so they can tell him what type of animal he is. On his journey to discover who he is Jin Jin makes many friends, learns to read and learns the amazing thing that only he can do!

"The beautiful watercolor illustrations and story of self discovery will resonate with young readers. (Ages 9-12)"

     www.KidsBookShelf.com

"Jin Jin the Dragon is fantastic. Equally strong on all fronts, this book boasts wonderful writing, beautiful illustrations and an interesting, honest message. It tells the story of a young dragon, Jin Jin, who is trying to figure out what kind of creature he is. He makes many friends, all who see a piece of themselves in Jin Jin and tell him that he must be what they are. He has scales, so he must be a fish; he has claws so he must be an eagle... Ultimately, though, Jin Jin is something different and he has learn what he is and what he can do on his own. Jin Jin learns to rely on his instincts and smarts, and to trust those around him in order to find the answers he is looking for.

"There are a couple of things that stand out to me about this book. First, this is a book written for young readers and it is written in five chapters. What a great way to help kids figure out what chapter books are about, to get them excited about what's coming up in the story! Next, readers are introduced to 13 Chinese characters in this book, and this introduction makes perfect sense in the context of the story. I was fascinated to read the note about the characters at the end of the book and am curious to learn more about the evolution of the characters.

"Aside from the mini-lesson on Chinese writing, we learn a good amount about the symbolism of dragons in Chinese culture. A note at the end of the book explains the place of dragons in China — and the note is fascinating! Once again, I left this note eager to learn more.

"Finally, I love the message in the book. Sure, it is about a young dragon figuring out who he is and what he can do. But what a perfect analogy for what our kids do as they grow up! Every day, they learn more about themselves, their place in the world and their skills and strengths. The journey of Jin Jin is one that every child is familiar with on a deeply personal level... even if they don't realize it!

"This is a fantastic book, one that is full of interesting ideas bound to spark conversation and questions. The facts that follow the story in the Author's Notes are broad enough that curious kids will want to learn more and will be eager to embark on a reading path that they might not have otherwise thought about. I personally am now eager to read some Chinese mythology to learn more about dragons — and if a book can spark this curiosity in me, I can only imagine what ideas and questions it will raise for our kids!"

     Ethan's Book Shelf

"Children enter the world of the Chinese dragon here, very different from the European dragon tradition that many may already be aware of. Jin Jin hatches from an egg and is not sure what type of creature he is. As he meets different animals, he finds he has much in common with them. He has the scales of a fish, the claws of an eagle, the body of a snake. In order to find out what he really is, he journeys to see Old Turtle and Crane who should be able to help him. On the way readers get a taste of Chinese lettering as well as Chinese culture. Finally, when he reaches his destination, Jin Jin fully understands what being a dragon is all about.

"Lovingly written and illustrated by siblings, this book is a glimpse into another culture where dragons are kind, curious and enchanting. Both the text of the novel and the illustrations are more personal than most books, something that contributes to its authenticity. The book has the feel of a traditional picture book while still being modern and accessible.

"Recommended for children to understand a different type of dragon and learn about another culture. This is perfect to use for Chinese New Year, but should not be limited to that. Appropriate for younger elementary children ages 6-8."

     Ethan's Book Shelf