The Paper Dragon

by Marguerite W. Davol

Book Overview

Mi Fei is a humble painter of scrolls. Between each day's sunrise and sunset, he paints scenes of the gods and their festivals' portraits of heroes and their deeds. Although the scrolls bring him fame, Mi Fei is content to live in his village, surrounded by people he loves. But one day a messenger enters the village with terrible news: the dragon Sui Jen has awakened from its hundred years' sleep and is destroying everything in its path. Someone must find a way to return Sui Jen to its slumber. To the villagers, only one among them is wise enough to confront the scaly beast -- Mi Fei. The power of the artist's vision and the ever-sustaining nature of love are brought together in Marguerite W. Davol's beautiful story, strikingly interpreted by Robert Sabuda in a series of gatefold illustrations that convey the storytelling majesty of the Chinese narrative scrollmaker's art.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0689319924
• ISBN13: 9780689319921
• Release Date: November 1997
• Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
• Length: 60 Pages
• Weight: 1.06 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 9.4" x 9.4"
• Age Range: 5 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Kindergarten to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

great story, Sabuda artwork and a non-violent resolution

This peaceful story is a lovely way to introduce another culture to young readers, and Robert Sabuda's artwork is beautiful. Mi Fei is an artist who is content to paint scrolls and live within his community until the villagers hear that a dragon has awakened to threaten the countryside and nominate him to face the foe. After a long journey, Mi Fei finds the dragon, who offers him a series of riddles/challenges to perform. Sabuda, better known for his pop-up masterpieces, brings the story to life with breathtaking images of vibrant color and flowing imagery.Wonderful tale.

Wonderful story and beautifully illustrated.

This is the most wonderful children's book I have ever read. I loved it and my seven year old daughter loves it also. It tells a wonderful story about Chinese culture,love and courage. The illustration is absolutely beautiful!I've recommended it to many friends with children.

Excellent story and visual content.

The Paper Dragon has captured the heart of all the readers I have given copies to (I am on my eighth copy). The story of a humble artist sent to task against a fierce dragon, is portayed colorfully in word and pictures. The gate style print of the pictures lend themselves to become an intergral part of the storyline.A touching lesson is given to us all, when we find that the dragon is thankful to be released from his reign of terror, and allowed to sleep again. I have heard my five year old tell the story to her friends.

Great for Readers' Theatre in the library

The Paper Dragon by Marguerite Davol is listed for readers age 4-8, but it works well with older children or students as a vehicle for Readers' Theatre. Dramatizing the roles of Mi Fei and the Dragon is not only fun but brings the story alive and can be done with few props. The illustrations with the foldout pages are not only beautifully done but the format provides a little mystery on each page which makes for a great read-aloud. The role of the humble artist as someone who represents a particular culture is actually a rather mature concept to present to children - The Paper Dragon does this effortlessly. Often artists are treated as strange or crazy in children's literature; it is refreshing to see that the artist here is portrayed as a problem solver.

Great story with great artwork. Great read aloud book.

This book was a great find. A wonderful story of a humble artist asked to face a fierce dragon to save his village. The wonderful artwork in this book beautifully tell the story of how the artist uses his craft to peacefully defeat the dragon. For all of you daycare and library storytellers the foldout page format of the book makes it easy to read this a group.My wife, my two year old son and I heartily recommend this book. It was a joy to come across a dragon story that does not use violence to defeat the dragon. The moral of the story is that love can win.