My Mom is a Dragon And My Dad is a Boar - a book review

My Mom is a Dragon And My Dad is a Boar

Author: Tricia Morrissey

Publisher: ThingsAsian Kids

         This is the yarn that has been faithfully transmitted by parents to children throughout the generations in Chinese families.

 I remember I was a wee little kid of 6 when my mother told me about the Twelve Lunar Animals. I wasted no time in memorizing all the 12 animals in their order. I supposed it also helped to speed up my arithmetic too, since I would then automatically mentally figure out the Lunar Animal of all my relatives by their birth years. (How gleeful I was to discover that the fierce Aunt was naturally, a Dragon and his gentle, sheepish husband a…Sheep.) My cousin doesn’t like to eat beef. He’s an Ox, no wonder. My little brother was a terror. He’s a Tiger.

My grandmother would have fantastic elaborations on each Animal, their strengths and characteristics and how they influence people’s actions. It was and still is the coolest thing I’ve ever heard.

         When the Power Rangers and their respective ‘Hidden Animals’ became popular years later, I pooh-poohed it. Been there, done that.

         My Mom is a Dragon And My Dad is a Boar is a collection of beautiful illustrations of the twelve Lunar Animals in paper cut form; plus a brief and easily understood monograph of each Animal. As per every Chinese calendar, the years for which each Animal represents are given as well.

        The book begins with the story of the convention that the Lord Buddha held one day to determine the 12 Lunar Animals. The first twelve to arrive in his court would be selected. And the Animals set off. Why is the first Animal the Rat? And why isn’t the Cat amongst the twelve? Could there be a reason why cats chase rats now? This book is an elegant and vehicle to transport this age-preserved legend of the Chinese into the generation the 21^st century.

 I appreciate that the animals are depicted in beautiful calligraphic fashion by the talented calligrapher and artist Kong Lee, along with their Chinese characters. Written by Asia enthusiast Tricia Morrissey, one characteristic that stands out in this book is that the total absence of any attempt to ‘westernize’ the Animals. The pictures and descriptions are just as how my grandmother would tell them, celestial and majestic instead of barn-like.

 I trust that this book will open up a whole world of imagination and thrill for your 5 year olds, and instill in them a deep sense and awe of heritage.