Nancy Tupper Ling

Throughout the book, Rachel points out her sisters' differences but her differences is what makes Alicia special. Alicia does what any other girl does like playing with animals and watching horses. She loves Rachel and Rachel loves her. But Rachel can get annoyed with having to take care of her sister all the time. When she gets picked on, Rachel doesn't do anything at first. It keeps happening until Rachel deicides her sister is more important than anything. The author wants to audience to understand what it's like from a close but outside point of view on how Down syndrome effects two different lives. I love how to illustrations are very realistic, almost looking like a photo.… (mehr)

Wei and Mei were twin sisters, born the same year that the dragon Frightful took up residence on the Dan-Tat Bridge in their village. Wei was bold and daring, while Mei was quiet and retiring, but whatever they did, they did together, because they were sisters. Over the years, encouraged by their auntie, Wei attempted to frighten Frightful, always assisted by a reluctant Mei. Then one day, reading the books in Madam Liu's library, the quiet Mei stumbled on a piece of information that could change everything...

The Yin-Yang Sisters and the Dragon Frightful is the second picture-book from author Nancy Tupper Ling that I have read, following upon her more poetic Double Happiness. An original fairy-tale, is features a number of story elements - a fearsome monster to be overcome, siblings with different abilities - that feel quite familiar to fans of fantastic stories. I appreciated the "yin and yang" message of balance here, that both Wei and Mei and their very different abilities and personalities are needed to resolve the problem. I also appreciated the conclusion of the story, in which Frightful becomes the dragon Delightful, as I found myself a little uncomfortable with the idea of a dragon being the villain of the piece, in a Chinese-inspired story, when traditionally they have not been viewed negatively in that part of the world. The artwork from illustrator Andrea Offermann is bright and appealing, full of motion and quite expressive. All in all, an entertaining little original fairy-tale, one I would recommend to fans of the genre, particularly if they are looking for Asian-inspired examples.… (mehr)