Demi's Dragons and Fantastic Creatures

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Marbleized-paper beasts and other mixed-media renderings leap and dance their way across metallic gold or pastel spreads in this razzle-dazzle celebration of Chinese mythology. Demi's creatures ripple with intricate design and pulsate with color: these are the ``dragons'' that parade the streets at Chinese New Year, and their otherworldly majesty is combined here with a sense of spirited fun. A short verse floating inside a bubble names the special properties (e.g., longevity, wisdom, etc.) of each dragon or animal, while a detailed glossary at the end explains its traditional Chinese symbolic value. Unfortunately the rhyming text is not entirely successful: its very brevity often obscures meaning and at times reads rather like a fortune cookie riddle. Ages 4-7. (Nov.)

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2-Demi's familiar, imaginative animals, seen waltzing their way through Demi's Find the Animal ABC (Grossett, 1985) and A Chinese Zoo (Harcourt, 1987), are back again. This time their boldness is dazzling. Intricately cut, mixed-media collages, often placed on gold or black backgrounds, have a stunning impact. Not scary in any way, these are happy creatures that are symbols of ``all that is good in traditional Chinese culture.'' Young readers will enjoy these fabulous beasts as they slither, leap, gallop, and wend their way across two-, three-, and even four-page spreads that open out to hold their oversized forms. Each one is accompanied by a ``pearl of wisdom,'' a simple, entertaining verse placed in a circle. The afterword adds another dimension, providing clearly written background information about Chinese dragons in general and each one of Demi's representations in particular. Young children are always asking for a good dragon book; here's one they will love.-Dot Minzer, North Barrington School, Barrington, IL