Crouching Tiger    by Ying Chang Compestine & Yan Nascimbene Order:  USA  Can Candlewick, 2011 (2011) Hardcover Read an Excerpt     Reviewed by Bob Walch This is the story of when my grandfather came to stay with my family during the Chinese New Year's celebration. My grandfather traveled all the way from China and he was a master of tai chi. When he was staying with us, he would practice in our backyard and I thought it would be cool to join him. Because I wasn't very patient, I soon became bored with what my grandfather was showing me, so eventually I tried to avoid him and the daily practice sessions. Then something very special happened. When the Chinese New Year's started I realized my grandfather was also helping out the famous lion dancers in Chinatown. When we attended the parade I saw how everyone respected him and how they referred to him as Master Chang. I was really surprised when I was allowed to play a small role in the annual parade through the streets of Chinatown as well. What a special night that was and afterwards I had a much greater understanding of my grandfather, our culture and the serious commitment that studying martial arts involved. If you'd like to know more about tai chi, the Chinese New Year's celebration and Chinese culture in general, I think you'll like this picture book. Also, check out the bottom of many of the book's pages because you'll see a picture of me demonstrating various moves like Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg, White Crane Spreads Its Wings and Waving Hands in Clouds. Maybe you can try some of these positions, too! Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews