The Beat of the Dragon Boat

ISBN: 1534113207

Author: Matula, Christina

Condition: New

Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection.A young boy learns about the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival from his grandfather when he attends his first dragon boat race.The Chinese Dragon Boat Festival takes place on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar, ushering in the start of summer. On the night before the Dragon Boat Festival, a young boy asks his grandfather how the dragon boat races first began. His grandfather tells him that legend has it that the races started in the ancient time of the Dragon King, when every lake and river had a guardian dragon. Dragons symbolize good luck, and have great power, especially over water and weather.On race day at the harbor, all the boats have a carved dragon head on their bows. As a final touch, to wake up their teams boat, the boy paints in the dragons eye. But once the race is underway, their teams dragon boat is in last place. How can they wake their dragon?