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100% satisfaction guarantee. Ships directly from Amazon. All pages intact. Spine may show wear. Former library book with typical library stickers and stamps. 100% satisfaction guarantee. Ships directly from Amazon. All pages intact. Spine may show wear. Former library book with typical library stickers and stamps. See less
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Nian, The Chinese New Year Dragon Hardcover – Picture Book, December 15, 2019

by Virginia Loh-Hagan (Author), Timothy Banks (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 46 ratings
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2020 EUREKA Excellence in Nonfiction Awards - Gold Winner 2020 Feather Quill Reviewer's Choice Award Mei hates springtime. Why? Because it's only in the spring that Nian, a fierce dragon, is able to leave his mountain prison under the sea to terrorize the local village. When the villagers hear the rumblings of Nian's hungry stomach, they know that winter has ended and spring is coming. But this year on the night before the first day of spring, a magical warrior visits Mei in her dreams. He tells Mei that it is her destiny to face and defeat Nian. But she must do it within 15 days or the dragon will be free forever. Author Virginia Loh-Hagan (PoPo's Lucky Chinese New Year) gives this retelling of the Nian legend an original twist, while explaining the origins of Chinese New Year traditions.
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  1. Reading age
    6 - 8 years
  2. Print length
    32 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    1 - 3
  5. Lexile measure
    570L
  6. Dimensions
    11.2 x 0.5 x 9.1 inches
  7. Publisher
    Sleeping Bear Press
  8. Publication date
    December 15, 2019
  9. ISBN-10
    1585364134
  10. ISBN-13
    978-1585364138
  11. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Wispy illustrations paying homage to Chinese brush painting illuminate this retelling and its spunky female lead, giving new details and a refreshing twist to a famous Chinese story. Endnotes explain more about Chinese New Year traditions but do not address why the evil monster here is a dragon when dragons in Chinese folklore are traditionally auspicious creatures. A charming retelling of a Chinese legend despite some liberties taken. --Kirkus Reviews

Loh-Hagan makes it her own by making the hero a young girl who figures out how to defeat the dragon, and the narrative builds exciting tension as Mei saves the day. Banks's kinetic artwork features a large (and age-appropriately scary), Chinese-style dragon. The bright red color used to frighten Nian really pops against the otherwise muted palette.VERDICT A wonderful version of a classic legend and a welcome addition to holiday collections. --School Library Journal

Nian: The Chinese New Year Dragon is one of the best children's books that I've read in a long time. The story, about a clever young woman who outsmarts a troublesome dragon is one that all children will enjoy. Add to that the tie-in to a Chinese legend and the amazing illustrations and this book is one that should be on every child's bookshelf. --Feathered Quill Book Reviews

My daughter likes that the heroine is a girl, just like her. Traditional Nian folklore typically features a male as the one who defeats the beast, so the Girl Power theme was a nice, modern twist. --Bicultural Mama Blog

About the Author

Dr. Virginia Loh-Hagan was born in the luckiest of all years, the Year of the Dragon. She’s an author, university professor, curriculum designer, and former elementary school teacher. She was inspired to write this story after doing author visits. Her young audiences wanted to know more about Chinese New Year! She lives in San Diego with one well-trained husband and two very naughty dogs.

Timothy Banks is an award-winning illustrator from Charleston, South Carolina. He’s created character designs for Nike, Nickelodeon, and Cartoon Network; quirky covers for Paste magazine; and lots of children’s books with titles like There’s a Norseman in the Classroom!, A Valentine for Frankenstein, and Monsters in Charleston. He’s also had the honor of being featured in the Lürzer’s Archive “200 Best Illustrators Worldwide” list, and his work has been exhibited at the Nucleus art gallery in California. Timothy plans to spend Chinese New Year celebrating with fireworks and painting his entire studio red. You can see more of his work at timothybanks.com, or follow @timbanks on Instagram.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sleeping Bear Press (December 15, 2019)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 32 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1585364134
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1585364138
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 6 - 8 years
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 570L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 1 - 3
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.7 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 11.2 x 0.5 x 9.1 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 46 ratings

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
46 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Hooshi
5.0 out of 5 stars Nice story
Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2024
Verified Purchase
Now we know about the dragon
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sj375
5.0 out of 5 stars Fun story!
Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2020
Verified Purchase
My two and a half year old daughter loves the story so much! I brought this to her daycare class to read, her classmates were drawn into it. I made the story much simple when I read in the daycare though.
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Heidi de los Andes
5.0 out of 5 stars great addition to Lunar New Year book collection
Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2020
Verified Purchase
We have a collection of Lunar New Year books, fiction and non-fiction, about all aspects of CNY. This tale, the story of Nian the dragon, is a wonderful addition to our collection.
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Roxyanne Young
5.0 out of 5 stars So many layers of good stuff in this Chinese New Year story!
Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2020
Virginia Loh-Hagan brings a modern twist on an ancient legend in NIAN, THE CHINESE NEW YEAR DRAGON. When Mei's village is threatened by the return of the fierce, hungry dragon Nian at year's end, a magical warrior appears to her in a dream and gives her a magical staff to help defeat him, but it's up to Mei to figure out how to use it. In this origin story for the lunar new year festivals that are celebrated around the world, our girl heroine is brave and clever and she shows her village how to protect themselves and elements of the celebrations are explained. Here's why we wear red, and here's why we clang drums and cymbals and set off firecrackers, and here's why we make offerings of food.

Timothy Banks's illustrations evoke the stylized natural elements of ancient Chinese nature paintings with the sharp curved waves, misty mountains, gable-roofed houses, flowing fabric, rounded animals, willowy trees, all in a sort of muted pallet, so the red bits really stand out, and the dragon, Nian, is fierce.

Loh-Hagan includes an informative nonfiction author's note at the end explaining some of the history and inspiration for the story, and why she chose a female heroine for this version of the story, and sharing a couple of different interpretations of the phrases for celebrating Chinese New Year.

Having just survived a pretty beastly year, I'd like to say "Kuo Nian" - check out the last page. You'll get it.
2 people found this helpful
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Jingle Jangle
5.0 out of 5 stars Clever book about the Chinese New Year!
Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2020
Review by 9 year old:

Mei was a girl who hates springtime. That’s because the fierce dragon, Nian, would wake up from his enchanted nap and feel hungry. Mei is quested to defeat the mighty Nian, because she was born in the year of the golden dragon. But she has to do it in only fifteen days! Mei finds ways to make the dragon retreat, but the dragon always comes back to the village! Will Mei defeat Nian in time? Or will Nian be free forever?

This book is very clever, especially Mei. Mei is my favorite character in this book because she’s the brave heroine and the main character of this story. I also like how Mei is so determined and brave. It’s a great Asian book about dragons and Chinese New Year. I also like the illustrations because the colors are very interesting and unique. Except the cow drawing. Nian is perfect for Chinese New Year and for anyone to read. I like how that the story is based off of the Chinese New Year legend. But above all, this book is great! I recommend this book to anyone who likes warrior legends. 
3 people found this helpful
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HB - Teacher
5.0 out of 5 stars Strong heroine teaches audience about a Chinese legend
Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2019
I love, love, loved the strong female character, Mei. Virginia Loh - Hagan did a wonderful job of adapting this legend and having a girl save the day. The book does wonderful job of explaining this legend, as well as adding additional information about Chinese New Year. The story teaches us a strong theme of being brave and persistent, no matter how scared we are. I look forward to sharing this book with my students as it offers a window into the legend and Chinese New Yearr for students that are not Chinese, while it also provides a mirror for those students that celebrate this holiday. The illustrations are beautiful, I enjoyed looking for Nian lurking in the background. Great read!
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TeamStu
5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Iteration
Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2022
A great iteration of the Chinese New Year origin story for my dragon-loving little girl! (The word minimum for this post is strange)
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Chu Wai Dai
5.0 out of 5 stars My 3-year-old grandson was enthralled by the story!
Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2020
From beginning to end, he sat at the very edge of his seat! And his parents had great fun reading it aloud, it's so lively and full of action. Doubtless, this story will be requested again and again for a long, long time!
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