Customer Reviews

The Sons of the Dragon King: A Chinese Legend

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Ed Young's all over the map. One minute he's meticulously cutting out brightly colored slips of paper to resemble rodentia as in, "Seven Blind Mice". The next he's dallying with pastels in the less remarkable, "Turkey Girl". Sometimes his books are astounding to the eye and ear and sometimes they test even the most die-hard of his fans. Veering in a completely new direction, Young's, "The Sons of the Dragon King", utilizes brush and ink (as well as his familiar cut paper style) to bring us a classic Chinese tale of nine brothers and the ways in which their father put their skills to use. It's not exactly the kind of story tots are going to expect with a title that includes the words, "Dragon King", but for some collections it will serve as a lovely addition.

There was once a Dragon King who had nine sons. The king sent his sons off to find their place in the world and, for a time, everything was hunky-dory. However, soon rumors start to circulate about each of the sons. Servants, who apparently have no qualms about downplaying a prince to his father, let the king know of the sons' individual flaws. For example, the first son seems to do nothing all day but challenge peasants to feats of strength. The Dragon King is inclined to punish his son, but then decides that perhaps he can use that strength to a better end. Hence, now many large columns in China are supported by images of this dragon son. The second son just sits on the roof all day, staring into nothingness. Again, the king thinks he should punish, but at last decides that his son's watchfulness can also be helpful. Hence, many Chinese buildings sport images of this son on the tops of their buildings, watching for danger. You get the picture. The third son is loud (so he's now on instruments). The fourth son is just (so he appears above prison doors). And so on and so forth. The tale ends with the father having found adequate placement for each dragon son and a contentment in the knowledge that all is right with the world.

I'm all about fairy tales that show individuals using their unique talents to work towards some common goal. So I was a little shocked to reach the end of this tale and find that the story, such as it was, was just a counting down of each son to his individual calling. They never band together to defeat a single enemy. They don't even know of one another. Basing this tale on a classic Chinese legend, Young has certainly given this tale a classy package. For the first time in my recollection, he's almost traipsed into the world of cartoon. His dragons (which are sometimes so sketchy that kids obsessed with the literal will find them a tad disheartening) can be silly, meticulous, and fierce. The inks used here look both classic and completely contemporary. As for the cut paper, I'm not entirely certain how Young managed to take out every tiny sliver required for his sidebars. I'm just glad he did.

That said, the book's not going to attract a wide audience. It's a nice tale, but there aren't enough pictures of the dragons for little kids and not enough story for older ones. The inked dragons are fabulous looking, yes, but they're not visually appealing to little kids. Older kids, the kinds that still read picture books but don't need tons of stories, will want to hear more than a tale of "brother _____ could _____ so now he ______". Also, I was disappointed to find that while Young is careful to include a nicely in-depth Author's Note and stamp for each brother, he has not included any words in Chinese aside from the brothers' names. But that's more of a personal choice than a real critique.

In the end, this is a grand story of a father accepting his sons and finding acceptable ways for them to come to the aid of humanity. It suggests that all parents that find their children to be different from what they originally wanted should attempt to be as open-minded as the infinitely wise Dragon King. I liked that part of the book. I just feel that this is a book for adults that like picture books. Not one for kids that like dragons. A beautiful creation in a peculiar presentation.

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.

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.