Hu Wan and the Sleeping Dragon
Outside Beijing, China, in the year 1572, nine-year-old Hu-Wan tends the vegetable garden with his grandfather. Their specialty is growing gourds that are made into ladles and bowls and sold in the marketplace. Each year, one special gourd is made into a cricket cage. This year, it is Hu-Wan's turn to grow and carve the special gourd. He decides it should be carved into the shape of a sleeping dragon. When Hu-Wan learns that the emperor has died and his nine-year-old son is named Emperor of China, he decides to give the dragon cricket cage to the young emperor to offer comfort and cheer.
- Beginning of text
- Author's note
| Interest Level | Grade 1 - Grade 4 |
|---|---|
| Reading Level | Grade 2 |
| Copyright | 2018 |
| BISACS | JUV016030, JUV013030, JUV039220 |
| Genre | Fiction, Picture Books |
| Publisher | Cherry Lake Publishing |
| Language | English |
| Number of Pages | 32 |
| Lexile | 810 |
| ISBN | 9781585369775 |
|---|---|
| Title Format | Hardcover |
| Release Date | 2017-12-15 |
| Author | Judy Young |
| Illustrator | Jordi Solano |
| Features | Author/Illustrator biography, Reviewed |
| Graphics | Full-color illustrations |
| Dimensions | 9 x 11 |
| Guided Reading Level | P |
| Accelerated Reader® Quiz | Pending |
Booklist - Hu Wan and the Sleeping Dragon
In 1572, Hu Wan works with his grandfather in their vegetable garden near the Forbidden City in Beijing, China. Their specialty is growing gourds, which are shaped into useful kitchen utensils such as bowls and large spoons to be sold at their village market. Each spring, as the gourds begin to appear, Grandfather makes a clay mold into which one chosen gourd would grow, taking on the mold’s shape. When mature, the special gourd will be freed from its clay mold and carved into a cricket cage so the insect’s song could be enjoyed by the old man and his grandson. In Hu Wan’s ninth year, his grandfather gives him the opportunity to create the gourd cricket cage. How the boy shapes his gourd and what he chooses to do with it make a satisfying story of thoughtfulness and compassion. Muted colors and beautiful illustrations enhance the tale of a young peasant, his grandfather, and the new emperor, himself only a child of nine years of age.
Author: Judy Young
Judy Young remembers writing a poem for her grandmother when she was about ten. Her grandmother encouraged her to keep writing, and Judy did! Judy is the author of over two dozen children’s picture books and novels, including, Promise, The Wild World of Buck Bray series and the Digger and Daisy series. Judy’s books are used extensively in the public schools and have received numerous awards and honors. One of her most cherished is hearing LeVar Burton read A Pet for Miss Wright for Reading Rainbow Storytime Video to celebrate National Reading Month. Another, was watching as R is for Rhyme, A Poetry Alphabet was performed by the University of Utah’s Creative Dance Program.
Judy received her MA in Speech and Language Pathology from the University of Tulsa and formerly worked in the public schools for 20 years. Now, a frequent speaker at schools, children’s lit fests and professional educational conferences nationwide, Judy’s firsthand experience in the schools makes her programs not only entertaining, but directly related to school curriculum.
Judy resides in the mountains near Mink Creek, Idaho, with her husband, Ross, a professional artist, who illustrated two of Judy’s books. In her spare time, Judy enjoys hiking, fishing, snowshoeing, and gallivanting around the country in “Arlo,” the Young’s traveling studio. Read more about Judy, her books and author visits to schools at www.judyyoungpoetry.com.
Illustrator: Jordi Solano
Jordi Solano was born in Barcelona and although he still lives there, he likes to visit and stay in almost every other country. He studied fine arts and illustration and has been illustrating books for the last ten years. Recent projects include Swimming with Sharks: The Daring Discoveries of Eugenie Clark; Beyond the Sixth Extinction; and iDoyle: The Interactive Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - A Scandal in Bohemia, an interactive book. Stories are his very favorite thing in the world: watching, reading, or telling them, so he’s very happy with the job he has.