Common Sense Media Review
By Regan McMahon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Dragons represent biracial identity in empowering tale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
A mom tells her biracial child THE TRUTH ABOUT DRAGONS in a bedtime story of adventure that highlights both Western and Asian mythologies. She says she'll share "a most precious secret about powerful magic that lives inside you." She recounts a quest through a forest full of hobgoblins to a yellow house in a "boggy swamp," where a gray-haired White woman serves the kid sugar cookies and apple cider and describes a fearsome, fire-breathing red dragon with a body like a lizard and wings like a bat, that lives underground and guards its gold and treasure. "And that would be one truth about dragons," says mom. The kid then goes through a forest of towering green bamboo, where the a path leads to a magic white rabbit who dwells on the moon and keeps the Asian moon goddess company, to a Chinese palace high atop a mountain, where a gray-haired Chinese lady serves chrysanthemum tea in a room that smells of incense and jasmine rice. She describes a blue dragon with a body like a serpent, with five claws on each leg and a pearl in its chin. It's a majestic creature of air and fire that rules the skies and rivers, commanding rain to fall and floodwaters to rise. "And that would also be a truth about dragons," says the kid's mom. She adds that this is the secret: "Inside your heart is where the two forests meet. Both journeys are yours to take. Both worlds are yours to discover." On the last page, readers see a photo of the kid with both grandmothers, who look like the old women in the dragon stories.
Is It Any Good?
This beautifully illustrated picture book offers two different dragons as stand-ins for the two cultures embodied in the biracial main character. The Truth About Dragons is an empowering celebration of dual cultural heritage and elders to guide you through both traditions. Author Julie Leung creates a warm, reassuring story, and illustrator Hanna Cha does a fantastic job of creating fairy tale/folklore worlds for the young main character to enter. The dragons are magnificent, but so are tiny details in the colorful spreads. The biracial theme may go over some kids' heads, but the book could help spark discussion between any kid and parent about the different cultural influences in their family.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the two dragons in The Truth About Dragons. How are they different? How are they the same? Where does each one live?
Do you have grandparents from both sides of your family? What are some stories you've heard from them? What stories do you wish they'd tell you?
Which picture is your favorite? Why?
Book Details
- Author: Julie Leung
- Illustrator: Hanna Cha
- Genre: Picture Book
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Princesses, Fairies, Mermaids, and More , Adventures , Fairy Tales , Great Boy Role Models , Great Girl Role Models
- Character Strengths: Communication , Curiosity , Gratitude
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Henry Holt
- Publication date: August 15, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 4 - 8
- Number of pages: 40
- Available on: Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Awards: ALA Best and Notable Books , Caldecott Medal and Honors
- Last updated: September 5, 2024
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
What to Read Next
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate