I'M A LOONG, NOT A DRAGON

In Li’s picture book, a lucky Loong teaches kids the truth about his often-misunderstood kind.

A bright red Loong (the Chinese word for dragon) with pointy teeth and flowing blue whiskers wakes among a group of young children and their teacher. While all are confused as to how Loong traveled all the way from the East China Sea to an American classroom, the students quickly deduce that their spirited celebrations of the Lunar New Year must have summoned him to them (just as “the Christmas spirit makes Santa’s sleigh fly!”). When Loong mentions that he is beloved the world over, a girl points out that many stories paint dragons in a bad light. Loong then sets them straight, noting how dragons are considered lucky in China before mysteriously disappearing. In defense of Loongs, the kids write letters to the authors of evil dragon stories to correct the narrative. Li’s story, despite some stilted prose, does a superb job of weaving together cross-cultural references and providing information about Asian traditions in an entertaining way. The real standout, however, is Lin’s artwork; every page is awash in reds and oranges, with small pops of color (Loong’s purple eyes, a student’s lime green skirt) delighting the eye. (The images themselves are simple and vaguely reminiscent of the Schoolhouse Rock! TV shorts of the 1970s.) The compelling facts and captivating pictures make for a worthwhile read.

A fun, richly illustrated story that explores the multilayered traditions of Loongs in Asian culture.