Resources to accompany Dragon Dancer written by Joyce Chng and illustrated by Jérémy Guided Reading Resource A step- by- step teacher s guide for reading Dragon Dancer as a class reader. These questions could also be used to prompt discussion in small groups or for independent readers approaching the text on their own. Cover image What can you see on the cover? Who is the author? Who is the illustrator? What do you think the boy shown on the cover is doing? Can you link this to the title of the story? Does the dragon shown on the cover fit your expectation of what a d ragon should look like? Why do you think the boy is shown in full colour, but the dragon is black and white with a faded outline? Pages 1-2 Look at the illustration on this page. Are there any clues to tell you what country this is set in? What day is the eve of the Lunar New Year? Who is Yao? Can you see him in the picture? What do you think a dragon dancer might be? Who do you think Shen Long is? Do the names of the characters confirm your guesses about where the story is set? Pages 3-4 Were you right about Shen Long? What colour is Shen Long? What colour are his eyes? Why are the words, So, little one, have you come to wake me? in italics? Yao says that he knows the voice of the dragon isn t real. Do you believe him? Do you think the dragon could be real? The author describes the voice of the dragon using metaphors: the gentle hiss of dry brown leaves and the shimmer of heat on a blue sky day. How do you think these things would actually sound? Lantana Publishing 2015. This may be re- produced solely in the downloader s school. 1
Pages 5-6 Why do you think Yao is both a little afraid and a little excited? The dragon calls Yao little one. What do you think this shows about their relationship? What do you think the author is trying to tell us about the dragon s voice with the following metaphor: his sky blue voice became a murky rainstorm. Do you think these descriptions are connected with the dragon s mood? The dragon is covered in a protective plastic cover. What does this tell us about the dragon? What would a rumble, as if from the bones of the earth sound like? The dragon is described here using the adjectives amused, scornful and proud. What impression do you get of the dragon at this point in the story? Why does Yao clench his fists in response to the dragon s questions? Why does Yao take a deep breath before repeating: Yes, I am? Pages 7-8 Why do you think the illustrator has chosen to show the words Boom! Boom! Boom in big letters? The drum beats sound like an earthquake. Can you think of another simile you could use to demonstrate how loud this sound is? Look at the description of Shen Long s movement: slid into the modern foyer in a silver- blue wave. Can you demonstrate how Shen Long moves? Why do you think Yao s palms are sweating? What do you think Long tou means? What language is this? If Shen Long s power is like leashed lightning, what do you think this says about him? Why do you think Yao wishes his grandpa had been there to see him dance? Pages 9-10 Why are the words Dance! Dance! Dance! shown in big letters? Shen Long s voice now sounds like a thunderstorm. How has his voice changed? What do you notice about all the similes and metaphors that describe Shen Long s voice? Why is Shen Long sniffing out the bad luck like a hunting hound? The author describes bad luck as being like sticky black goo. Do you think this is an appropriate description for bad luck? Why might Yao believe that he and Shen Long can dance the bad luck away? Lantana Publishing 2015. This may be re- produced solely in the downloader s school. 2
Pages 11-12 This time it is Now! Now! Now! shown in big letters. Why has the illustrator done this? Why do you think the author uses a really long sentence to describe the movement of the dragon and the boy here? What colours are shown on this page? Why? Do you think Yao and Shen Long really shot up into the air? What do you think is really happening here? Note: There is no right or wrong answer! Pages 13-14 Why do you think there are no words on this page of the book? What kind of scenery can you see here? Do you think Yao and Shen Long are still in the shopping mall? What does Shen Long s body look like on this page? What does this tell us about the dragon at this point in the story? Chinese word for luck - Fu Pages 15-16 What are the streams of blackness that streak towards Yao and Shen Long? Look at Yao s figure in this illustration. How do you think he is feeling at this point in the story? What does Shen Long s voice sound like now? What does the simile, like a big cat playing with a toy, demonstrate about Shen Long? Pages 17-18 What words are repeated from previous pages here? Why is this? Why is there a sound like war described on this page? What are Yao and Shen Long at war with? Why are Yao and Shen Long drawing down the colours of the sun? What do you think they are going to do with these colours? What do you think the sun represents? Pages 19-20 What do you think is happening in this illustration? Can you see any animals hidden in the yellow colour? Why are they there? Is there anything to spot in the blackness? Why is the gold described using the word solar? Why are Yao and Shen Long feeling triumphant now? What do you think will happen next? Lantana Publishing 2015. This may be re- produced solely in the downloader s school. 3
Pages 21-22 Why do you think Yao cannot hear the clapping and cheering of the audience? Why does the author choose these two weather images to accompany this moment in the story: the rustling of spring rain and the rumbling of rolling thunder clouds? What makes Yao a proper dragon dancer now? Chinese New Year celebrates the start of a new year and Chinese people have many customs that help them ensure that they will have good luck for the rest of the year. How do you think the story of Yao and Shen Long connects to these customs? Pages 23-24 What do you think this illustration shows us about the relationship between dragon and boy? Shen Long glided towards the ground here. Can you find other verbs in the story that help us understand the way the dragon moves? What does it mean to be joy? Why do you think Shen Long shows joy at this point in the story? Can you make a joyous face? Do you think the dragon looks different here compared to how he has been shown in the rest of the story? Pages 25-26 Why do you think Shen Long s eyes are described as shining like moons? Why will Yao always remember Shen Long s eyes? Has Yao mentioned his grandpa before? When was this? What clues have you had in the story about their relationship? What do you think a sky dragon is? What do you think about the dragon at this stage in the story? Is he real? Pages 27-28 Why are Shen Long s words so important to Yao? What weather metaphor is used to describe Shen Long s voice here? Do you think this is appropriate for a dragon falling asleep? What does roused mean? How do you feel when you are roused each morning? How do you think Shen Long feels every time he is roused for a new dance? What are your final thoughts about the dragon does he come to life or is this all in Yao s imagination? Do you have evidence to support your answer? Lantana Publishing 2015. This may be re- produced solely in the downloader s school. 4
Page 29 This is another page without words. Can you explain this? What words would you use to accompany this page if you could add in some text? Where is Yao sitting in this illustration? How do you think he feels? What clues helped you work this out? Why do you think he is shown staring at the moon? Do you think the moon helps to represent (or stand in for) anything? What do you think about the shape of the clouds that can be seen around the moon? Is this an appropriate end to the story? At the end of the story: Can you sum up Yao s experience in Dragon Dancer? How do you think he develops as a character? What do you think it means to Yao to become a proper dragon dancer? Why do you think Yao s grandpa is absent from the story? What is your favourite description in the story? Can you explain why? What kind of dragon is Shen Long? How could this story help young children understand what Chinese New Year is about? Would you like to be a dragon dancer? Maybe there is something else that you really want to do and you won t feel satisfied until you achieve this goal! Challenge words: eve ancient amber shimmer murky scornful throbbing foyer leashed territory misfortune streaked triumph solar glided murmuring roused Lantana Publishing 2015. This may be re- produced solely in the downloader s school. 5