Unit Table of Contents

PART I BIBLIOGRAPHY

A COLLECTION OF DRAGON FOLK TALES IN PICTURE BOOK FORMAT

Bateson-Hill, Margaret. Lao-Lao of Dragon Mountain (Francesca Pelizzoli, illustrator) New York: Kingfisher Chambers, 1998 (1840890118, $7.95 pb, Ages 5-8)
In this Chinese folk tale, Lao-Lao can create anything with scissors and paper that the children of her village ask for. When the greedy and literal-minded emperor hears of this, he commands his evil minions to lock Lao-Lao in the tower until she fills a treasure chest with jewels. Her plight riles the anger of the Ice Dragon, who takes revenge on the emperor and gives Lao-Lao a new home on his back.

Demi. The Dragon's Tale : And Other Animal Fables of the Chinese Zodiac . New York: Holt, 1996. ( ISBN 0805034463, $16.95, Ages 7-10).
Simple introduction to the animals of the Chinese zodiac including the year of the dragon.

Hillman, Elizabeth. Min-Yo and the Moon Dragon (John Wallner, Illustrator). New York: Harcourt, 1992. (ISBN: 0152542302, $14.95, Ages 4-8).
When the moon suddenly appears to be approaching the earth, young Min-Yo climbs the cobweb staircase betwen the earth and moon to ask the moon dragon for help.

Kimmel, Eric. The Rooster’s Antlers: Story of the Chinese Zodiac. New York: Holiday, 1999 (ISBN:0823413853, Ages 4-8, $16.95).
Long ago when the Jade Emperor of China was selecting the animals for the Chinese calendar, all the animals wanted to be included. Dragon, sensitive about his bald head, complains to Centipede, who offers, for a price, to obtain Rooster's gorgeous antlers.

Lattimore, Deborah. The Dragon’s Robe. New York: Harper, 1990. $14.95 (OP).
Picture book about a brave weaver who saves China from drought and invasion by weaving a dragon robe.

Lawson, Julie. The Dragon's Pearl (Paul Morin, Illustrator). Boston:Clarion Books, 1993. (039563623X, $15.95, Ages 5-8).
After finding a shimmering magical pearl, Xiao Sheng, a poor boy, and his mother are
blessed with good fortune that they generously share with others, in a lyrical tale based
on ancient Chinese dragon lore.

Leaf. Margaret. Eyes of the Dragon (Ed Young, Illustrator). New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard, 1987 (ISBN 0688061559, Ages 5-8). OP
One of the key texts for the introductory lesson--but available in libraries--introduces reader to village life during the Song Dynasty, to the conventions of Chinese dragon depiction and to the itinerant dragon painter Ch’en Jung (Chen Rong) who created his remarkable scrolls in the 13th century.

Pattison, Darcy. The River Dragon (Jean Tseng and Mou-Sien Tseng, Illustrators)
New York: Lothrop Lee & Shepard (ISBN: 0688104266, Ages 5-8).
Based on Chinese dragon lore, this tale of a prospective bridegroom who must outwit a
river dragon to earn his bride has illustrations containing traditional elements but
reflecting no particular period of Chinese history

Williams, Jay. Everyone Knows what a Dragon Looks Like (Mercer Mayer, illustrator). New York: Dial, 1976 ($6.95 pb, Ages 5-8).
An excellent introduction to Chinese dragons, this picture book also deals directly with the issues of stereotyping. Set in a Chinese border town during one of the periods of Mongol invasion. Dragon powers of transformation.


Yacowitz, Caryn. The Jade Stone. Ages 4-8). OP
When the Great Emperor of all China commands him to carve a Dragon of Wind and fire in a piece of perfect jade, Chan Lo discovers the stone wants to be something else.
Yep, Laurence. The Dragon Prince. New York:Harper, 1997 (ISBN:0064435180, 5.95, Ages 5-8).
Picture book folk tale tells story of poor farmer’s youngest daughter who agrees to marry a fierce dragon in order to save her father’s life. Beauty and the Beast tale stressing powers of transformation.

Young, Ed and Becket, Hilary. The Rooster’s Horns: A Chinese Puppet Play to Make and Perform. New York: Collins, 1978 (Ages 5-8). OP
Presents the plot of a Chinese puppet pllay and includes directions for making shadow puppets and a theatre. An excellent extension activity for children wishing to explore dragon stories in an alternative form. Story must be converted into narration and stage direction.

 
BIBLIOGRAPHY OF FOLK TALE COLLECTIONS

Carpenter, Frances. Tales of a Chinese Grandmother (Malthe Hasselriis, Illustrator). Boston: Charles E. Tuttle, 1991.
An excellent collection of folktales for elementary students reprinted after many years out of print containing several dragon stories.

Chang, Isabelle, C. Tales from Old China. New York: Random, 1969. OP

Cheney, Cora. Tales from a Taiwan Kitchen. New York: Dodd Mead, 1976. OP
Two stories reprinted in Faces Magazine, April, 1985.

Chrisman, Arthur Bowie. Shen of the Sea: Chinese Stories for Children. New York: Dutton, 1925,1953.
Newbery Award winning literary tales based on the author’s readings on China.

Gittings, Robert and Manton, Jo. The Flying Horses: Tales from China , New York: Holt, 1977. OP
27 folk tales from many parts of China.

Hoke, Helen, ed. Dragons, Dragons, Dragons. New York: Watts, 1972. OP
A collection of dragon folk tales from around the world.

Jagendorf, M. A. and Weng, Virginia. The Magic Boat and Other Chinese Folk Stories. New York: Vanguard, 1980. OP
A collection of tales from the Han and the minority peoples of China.

Kendall, Carol. Sweet and Sour: Tales from China. Boston: Houghton, 1980.
An excellent introduction begins this well-reviewed collection of folktales.

Liyi, He. The Spring of Butterflies and Other Chinese folk Tales. New York: Lothrop, 1985. OP
Folk tales from different regions of China.

Manning-Sanders, Ruth. A Book of Dragons. New York: Dutton, . OP
A collection of dragon tales from a variety of sources.

Sanders. Tao Tao Liu. Dragons, Gods and Spirits from Chinese Mythology. New York: Peter Bedrick, 1980 (ISBN:0872269221, $24.95, Ages10-14).
Covering topics such as dragons, superstitions, and cultural tradition, each section supplies historical background on its subject, followed by a selection of myths. Attractive line drawings and color paintings stylistically reflect the stories' Chinese origins.

Wydhham, Robert. Tales the People Tell in China. New York: Messner, 1971. OP

BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR
DRAGON OF THE LOST SEA

Yep, Laurence. Dragon of the Lost Sea. Young Adult Paperback Reprint edition, (July 1994), HarperTrophy; ISBN: 0064402274, $5.95.
Synopsis
Centuries of wandering have taught the exiled dragon princess Shimmer that humans are beneath her notice.But she allows young Thorn to join her in the search for the evil witch Civet--and the quest to restore her dragon clan's lost home. By the Newbery Honor-winning author of Dragonwings, Yep bases his series about the dragon, Shimmer, heavily on Chinese folklore and myth.

2. 3. 4.

Synopsis: Dragon Steel (Book 2)
A sequel to Dragons of the Lost Sea finds dragon princess Shimmer, along with the humans Thorn and Indigo, journeying to an underwater world in their struggle to save the ancestral home of the dragons in the Inland Sea.

Synopsis: Dragon Cauldron (Book 3)
In the third book of the fantasy series begun with Dragon of the Lost Sea and Dragon Steel, the dragon princess Shimmer, the witch Civet, the human children Thorn and Indigo, and the clever wizard and narrator Monkey are all trying to repair the dragon cauldron--the key to recovering the lost dragon home.

Synopsis: Dragon War (Book 4)
Shimmer, princess of the dragons, joins forces with two humans and a monkey wizard to reclaim her clan's home, the beautiful Inland Sea, from the evil Boneless King and his dark forces.




Background information of Laurence Yep’s use of Chinese mythology can be found in Diane Johnson-Feelings’ book Presenting Laurence Yep, New York; Twayne, 1995. Included in the Appendix 2 is an article by Yep in which he describes in some detail how he utilized myth in his dragon series. The article is called “A Garden of Dragons,” which first appeared in The Reading Teacher 30:4 (January, 1977):359-63. Your school or public librarian should be able to locate the article.