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calistareads's review
4.0
I was going to hold this off until next year at New Years, but I needed some 2019 books for this month, so I’m using it. I can’t get books I need from the library.
This is the same kind of book as the rest of the How to Catch series. What is interesting about this is it seems to be set in China with a diverse set of kids running around, which is a neat idea to me. It’s Chinese New Years and the kids are trying to catch the lucky red dragon. Their traps aren’t very thought out here. The traps are sort of silly. Still it’s energetic and the artwork has bright colors.
Nephew read this with me and he adores these books. They have action and he loves the monsters they try and catch. He thought the red dragon was very cool. He said this book is great compared to the other stuff I’ve been getting for him, so he gave this 5 stars. He did have a dry spell of books that aren’t his genre, so I get it.
This is the same kind of book as the rest of the How to Catch series. What is interesting about this is it seems to be set in China with a diverse set of kids running around, which is a neat idea to me. It’s Chinese New Years and the kids are trying to catch the lucky red dragon. Their traps aren’t very thought out here. The traps are sort of silly. Still it’s energetic and the artwork has bright colors.
Nephew read this with me and he adores these books. They have action and he loves the monsters they try and catch. He thought the red dragon was very cool. He said this book is great compared to the other stuff I’ve been getting for him, so he gave this 5 stars. He did have a dry spell of books that aren’t his genre, so I get it.
bargainandbooks's review
3.0
How to Catch a Dragon is a story about s young boy and his friends trying to catch a dragon for good fortune. He is spending time with his mother and grandmother when he takes off on an adventure.
I liked the story. It was cute and fun to read. The illustrations were colourful and great the way the dragon always evaded them, always just out of frame.
It was pretty interesting how there were translations at the end of the book. Learning new languages is always fun.
I liked the story. It was cute and fun to read. The illustrations were colourful and great the way the dragon always evaded them, always just out of frame.
It was pretty interesting how there were translations at the end of the book. Learning new languages is always fun.
quirkylitlover's review
4.0
How to Catch a Dragon opens with a boy, his mother, and his grandmother preparing for Chinese New Year. The boy overhears his mother saying that a dragon would bring health and fortune, so he sets out with a group of friends to capture a dragon. Despite a series of cleverly planned traps, the children never manage to catch the dragon they were hunting. The boy returns home with a small dragon that his mother appreciates. The brightly colored illustrations in this book are interesting and engaging. Young readers will enjoy seeing how the dragon manages to escape each of the traps. The illustrations capture the loving relationship that the boy has with his mother and grandmother.
There is Chinese text incorporated in illustrations throughout the book. As an educator, I would love to know the translations for this text as it would add to the educational value.
I received a free copy of this title from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #HowtoCatchaDragon
There is Chinese text incorporated in illustrations throughout the book. As an educator, I would love to know the translations for this text as it would add to the educational value.
I received a free copy of this title from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #HowtoCatchaDragon
howlinglibraries's review
5.0
What a cute little story of Chinese New Year traditions, with a fun twist of this group of kiddos setting traps to try to catch a dragon. The art is bright and colorful, and there's a good cadence to the words that would work fabulously for a storytime session.
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
mrs_mazzola_reads's review
3.0
This is another in the How to Catch series and it is cute, but not great. The location is unclear -- is it taking place in China? I like the idea of inclusive/diverse representation in the kids, but it feels forced. And the rhyme/meter is a little off at points. However, I think that a lot of classes do something similar to a lunar new year mini-lesson and this will be a very popular read aloud for that purpose.
cvangogh's review
4.0
I purchased this book to help teach my children about Lunar New Year. I am a teacher at a school that houses international students from China and every year I celebrate Spring Festival with them. I like the How to Catch books because they are fun to read and rhyme nicely. I did not feel like this book taught a lot about Spring Festival. It mentions different aspects of the celebration, like red envelopes, but not what they are actually used for. For example, they use a red envelope to try to catch the dragon as opposed to giving it to children. It is cute though and fun to read if you are spending time discussing the actual events and traditions of Spring Festival.
shayemiller's review against another edition
3.0
Written in rhyming text with adorable digitally painted artwork, a group of young children are chasing down a dragon. The story is set in China during the Chinese New Year and would make a fun fictional read while studying the holiday. The back matter includes a two paged spread of the poetic text written in three languages. The art was first sketched , then painted digitally with brushes designed by the artist.
For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!
For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!
booklover_zzz's review
5.0
4.5 Stars
Adam Wallace’s colorful children book, How to Catch a Dragon, easily explains the traditions of the Chinese New Years to anyone unfamiliar with the culture. The rhymes were fun, flowed well, and would have been easily understood by younger children. The artwork was cute and matched each stanza. My only complaint is that even the ending isn’t what I expected (which I loved) the resolution is a bit rushed.
Adam Wallace’s colorful children book, How to Catch a Dragon, easily explains the traditions of the Chinese New Years to anyone unfamiliar with the culture. The rhymes were fun, flowed well, and would have been easily understood by younger children. The artwork was cute and matched each stanza. My only complaint is that even the ending isn’t what I expected (which I loved) the resolution is a bit rushed.
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