The Yin-Yang Sisters and the Dragon Frightful

August 1, 2018
Can two sisters conquer the dragon who terrorizes their village?The villagers of Woo are supremely inconvenienced by an ornery dragon who takes up residence across a bridge that connects their homes to the market. That same day, the Lee twins are born, one as fierce as the other is mild. Their auntie predicts that, like yin and yang, the two will be stronger together and defeat the dragon. The prose riffs satisfyingly on folklore conventions; readers and listeners will especially appreciate the repeated refrain: "Still, they were sisters. They stuck together." Offermann's stirring pen-and-ink-and-watercolor illustrations create a deeply textured world, moving seamlessly from breathtaking vistas to intimate close-ups. A double-page-spread image of the two girls as infants, snuggled together in a round basket, so aptly captures the concept of yin and yang, with a smart reference to the icon. Precise harmony eludes the narrative though, which devotes much more time to the thoughtful, "oozy"-feeling Mei, who arguably could have handled the dragon alone, than to fierce Wei. And for a story so clearly informed by imperial China, missed opportunities (additional resources about yin and yang, use of Chinese characters rather than scribbles in the illustrations) and misdirection (fabricated names and spelling conventions that approximate actual places or things) leave it treading near appropriation.Not quite a perfect balance here--but visually delightful nonetheless. (Picture book. 4-8)

COPYRIGHT(2018) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

September 1, 2018

PreS-Gr 2-An empowering tale set in Ancient China with broad appeal. The day the Lee sisters Mei and Wei are born, a frightening but rather drowsy dragon stretches his body over the Dan-Tat Bridge and refuses to budge, inconveniencing and terrifying the villagers who live on either side of a gorge. Even as babies, the girls' yin-yang personalities are visible, as they spiral around one each other in a basket-Wei with curled fist and furrowed brow and Mei with a peaceful countenance. At the tender age of five, Wei, the braver of the two, faces Frightful head on. But Wei's headstrong methods only work when fused with the thoughtful insights of obedient and clever Mei. Offerman's art is culturally sound and striking in its depiction of the villagers' dress and the beauty of the rice terraces. Her use of pencil and glazing add a softness to the beautifully proportioned spreads, inviting eyes to linger on detail and then rest in the white space. VERDICT Expertly crafted, in both word and form, this tale feels old and new and will be gobbled up by kids.-Kristy Kilfoyle, Canterbury School, Fort Myers, FL

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.