http://www.shens.com/dragon_lover/ en-us Copyright 2009 Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:17:07 -0800 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification The Dragon Lover: And Other Chinese Proverbs by Yong-Sheng Xuan reviewed by School Library Journal:

"Images constructed of cut paper and collage embellish the artist's bilingual versions of stories connected with five familiar Chinese sayings. The sayings teach various lessons. A lazy farmer starves while idly waiting for good luck to repeat itself. A musician learns to play what is appropriate to his audience. A crane and clam engage in a battle of wills that both lose. An old horse, using its long memory, leads a general's army home. A man's professed love of dragons reveals itself to be deep-rooted fear. The proverbs mentioned in the title are printed only in Chinese. The English text does not translate them as short, pithy sayings, but instead amplifies each well-known proverb with stories that read like fables. Bilingual source notes referring to specific works of Chinese literature are appended. Xuan provides modern adaptations of traditional Chinese paper cuts that are striking."
]]> http://www.shens.com/dragon_lover/2008/08/school-library-journal.html http://www.shens.com/dragon_lover/2008/08/school-library-journal.html Reviews Reviews Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:17:07 -0800 The Dragon Lover: And Other Chinese Proverbs by Yong-Sheng Xuan has been reviewed in Multicultural Review:

"Collections of proverbs that offer insight into the life force of another culture are not a new idea. Recently, quite a number of picture books have appeared featuring a small handful of proverbs with lavish illustrations as the main attraction.

Carefully documented from ancient sources. The Dragon Lover contains five little stories, each of which explains a common proverb or saying. A lazy farmer sees a rabbit happen to kill itself running into a stump, and he spends the rest of his time waiting for another unlucky rabbit. A musician realizes that he must adapt his music to his audience. A quarreling pair ends by both losing the game. An old horse proves useful in his wisdom. A man infatuated with dragons proves afraid of the actual item.

The attractive and unusual illustrations are actually paper cuts, enlivened with color and sometimes placed against a textured background. The delicate and intricate art of the paper cut is a highly admired and ancient art in China. Those in this book reflect both great technical skill and creativity. "
]]> http://www.shens.com/dragon_lover/2008/08/multicultural-review.html http://www.shens.com/dragon_lover/2008/08/multicultural-review.html Reviews Reviews Fri, 15 Aug 2008 13:54:36 -0800 The Dragon Lover: And Other Chinese Proverbs by Yong-Sheng Xuan reviewed by
Fatima Lim-Wilson

"The paper-cut works in this book are not only unique but also breath-takingly beautiful. Xuan produces art masterpieces that are both bold and delicate. Be it a heavenly dragon in fight or a crane caught in the clutches of a clam, Xuan's works all pulsate with the tremulous joy of life. The Chinese proverbs themselves are likewise admirable in their forthright moral themes of honesty and humility. A welcome bonus is the Chinese version of the tale unobtrusively featured alongside each page. Seeing the Chinese text next to the illustrations makes one realize how language itself, in its very written form, is a beautiful art. Xuan's book bestows upon the reader the precious gift of both a fine collection of proverbs and amazingly lovely art."
]]> http://www.shens.com/dragon_lover/2008/08/international-examiner.html http://www.shens.com/dragon_lover/2008/08/international-examiner.html Reviews Reviews Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:04:55 -0800