Crouching Tiger
Boy learns to appreciate his heritage in universal story.
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that while Crouching Tiger is about a Chinese-American boy coming to appreciate his heritage, it has universal appeal. Many kids who have parents or grandparents from another country, or parents who identify with their ancestral roots, can be ambivalent about speaking a different language or keeping up traditions from a foreign land. Crouching Tiger handles the complexity of those feelings with subtlety and grace.
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What's the Story?
When his grandpa, a tai chi master, comes from China for a visit, Vinson, a young Chinese-American boy, is interested in learning a new martial art, but disappointed when he finds the slow movements and measured breathing a lot less exciting than kung fu. And he doesn't like Grandpa calling him by his Chinese name, Ming Da, either. But when he sees his grandfather save a woman by kicking away a board aimed at her head, then gets an important role in the Chinese New Year parade and comes home with a bunch of money-filled red envelopes, he begins to feel it's pretty cool being Chinese.
Is It Any Good?
CROUCHING TIGER has Ying's always-strong storytelling and exceptional illustrations by Yan Nascimbene. The art is stark and stylized, capturing the complex emotions of little Vinson as he goes from resistance to acceptance to pride and joy. From bold crowd scenes to delicate portraits of Grandpa and Vinson practicing tai chi in the backyard with leaves gently falling, the illustrations enhance every moment of the narrative.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what it's like for kids who have two cultures. Is it double the fun, or doubly hard?
Families can also talk about ethnic traditions. Why is it meaningful to eat certain foods and celebrate holidays in the same way your family has for generations?
Is it sometimes tough to admire and respect a family member from "the old country" who speaks a different language or speaks English with an accent or dresses differently? Have you ever had mixed feelings about your heritage?
Book Details
- Author: Ying Chang Compestine
- Illustrator: Yan Nascimbene
- Genre: Picture Book
- Topics: Sports and Martial Arts
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Candlewick Press
- Publication date: December 13, 2011
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 6 - 9
- Number of pages: 40
- Last updated: March 7, 2019
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For kids who love picture books and martial arts
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