Review of "Awakening the Dragon: The Dragon Boat Festival" by Arlene Chan

I had never heard of dragon boat racing until I read this book. Dragon boats are those elaborately decorated canoe-like boats that you often see in movies about China that have a dragon's head carved into the prow. This interesting book tells the story of the Dragon Boat Festival which dates back to the Han Dynasty in the 3rd Century. Author Arlene Chan explains the history of the relationship of the dragon to Chinese culture and the evolution of the Dragon Boat Festival. You will instantly recognize how the dragon boat races were the original rowing crew races that are standards of American and European colleges as well as Olympic events. What a wonderful treat for the young reader in grades 2-5.