Red is a Dragon: A Book of Colors [Hardcover]

Roseanne Thong (Author), Grace Lin (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2001 | Grade Level: P and up

Discover shades of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and more as a little girl finds color in all sorts of everyday things. Many of the featured objects are Asian in origin, others universal: red is the dragon in the Chinese New Year parade, green is a bracelet made of jade, and yellow are the taxis she sees on her street. With rich, boisterous illustrations and colors that leap off the page, this concept picturebook will brighten every child's day!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The gentle primer Red Is a Dragon by Roseanne Thong, illus. by Grace Lin, does for colors what their Round Is a Mooncake did for shapes, in a felicitous meeting between East and West. The girl who narrated the previous book here serves as tour guide through 10 hues, each of which dominates a spread redolent with the saturated colors and intricate patterns of Chinese textiles and paintings.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

reS-K-A beautiful Chinese dragon in several shades of red writhes across a double-page spread, accompanied by children carrying drums, cymbals, and strings of firecrackers-a fitting start for a concept book about colors. Although many of the objects portrayed are Asian in origin, such as lychees, incense sticks in a pot, and a jade bracelet, most are universal. The attractive illustrations use large areas of vibrant colors overlaid by varied patterns in the same colors. The text in rhyming couplets is less successful; at times the need for a rhyme sometimes outweighs the regard for exact description. Quibbles aside, concept books are always needed and this one offers a peek at Chinese-American culture.

Marian Drabkin, formerly at Richmond Public Library, CA

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (August 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811831779
• ISBN-13: 978-0811831772
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 9.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #762,657 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a bright and colorful world, November 5, 2001

By 

Larry Mark "editor of MyJewishBooks.com" (nyc) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Red is a Dragon: A Book of Colors (Hardcover)

Illustrator Grace Lin's use of color and curly cue backgrounds are more than half the reason to buy this book. In short verse, the reader and female protagonist is introduced to very bright colors and a red dragon and firecrackers, red melons and lychees on green backgrounds, orange crabs on the sand in your hand, yellow incense sticks and taxis, green gourds and toads, green jade that mom and daughter share, blue sneakers, purple kites, pink peonies, and white dumplings to share with a brother. What colors surround you?? A glossary of ten words closes the book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderul for those of us who have children from China, October 8, 2005

By 

KSL "emma-and-me" (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Red is a Dragon: A Book of Colors (Hardcover)

Although my daughter was born in China and now living here in the US. I want her to know her heritage. Grace Lin and Roseanne Thong have created many terrific books that let me share with my daughter about Asian families and how they celebrate and most importantly how color plays such a vital role in the Asians eyes and lifestyles.

I love that Grace lin included dragon dancing and put feet under it for your child to see. I am trying to show my daughter that the Dragons used in Dragon Dances for the Chinese New Year is not a "live" dragon, but that there are many people or one person underneath and that they are wearing a dragon costume. Just like my daughter wheres a costume at Halloween. And then maybe this year she won't cry... or maybe not as much... she's only 2 1/2 years old.

I love that the book introduces us to the Chinese culture and how they eat different foods and instead of using forks, knives and spoons they use chopsticks! I love that one of the last lines in the book prompts your child to see what colors are around them, be it in their homes, backyards and else where. I also love that there are definations of certain words that we might be unfamiliar with. No matter if you live in America, Australia, Canada or Neatherlands or anywhere that Asains have found a place to call home, this book will help you open your child & families lives & eyed to how Asians live.

There are may terrific books by Grace Lin and Toseanne Thong, here's to many, many more books to come in the future!!!!!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wide range of ages can appreciate this one, February 3, 2003

By 

Lady "lady-in-nj" (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Red is a Dragon: A Book of Colors (Hardcover)

Not just a book about colors. It's lovely to see Asian & American people and items intermixed esp. if you &/or your child are a minority where you live. But this is a book for *everyone*, read out-loud or read-to. Personally, I prefer the celebration pictures & parades more than the simple ones at the beach, and I still prefer their 'Round is a mooncake' but this book has grown on me.