A Perfect Dragon

We LOVE Amy Wu! The Bee was obsessed with the first book, Amy Wu and the Perfect Boa so we were very excited for Amy Wu and the Patchwork Dragon by Kat Zhang and Charlene Chua. It is a lovely story about creativity.

When Amy’s teacher reads a story about dragons the class is inspired to make dragons of their own out of different materials. When Amy’s picture of a dragon doesn’t look like the others, her classmate's question whether her’s is even a dragon. Amy knows it is because it looks just like a dragon she has seen in her attic at home. With the help of her family, Amy creates her own beautiful dragon that is perfectly her.

The illustrations in this book are incredible. Charlene Chua makes Amy come to life! I love how she illustrated all the different dragon concepts of the class and how Amy’s family returns, just as we remember them. Her illustrations are so fun and there are amazing little Easter eggs throughout that reders will really enjoy. Also, you can tell Charlene Chua is a cat lover! Amy’s sweet little kitty is on every page!

Amy Wu and the Patchwork Dragon is a lovely story about identity and creativity. In the story, her classmates question her picture of a dragon and Amy tries to draw one just like they did, but really feels like it’s just not her. With the support of her family and her friends, she figures out how to combine the western idea of a dragon with her eastern cultural dragon.

This book has activities at the back! We really love a picture book that will extend learning and fun. The publishers have included a dragon activity and the descriptions of both an Eastern dragon and a Western Dragon so readers can compare and contrast the two.

Although books are not the answer to all of the hurt and pain in the world, ensuring we are sharing a diverse library of books that celebrate accomplishments, joy and triumphs will go a long way to creating a new generation of understanding and empathetic adults who will hopefully make the world so much better than it is today.