Dinner Table Talks: Nian, the Chinese New Year Dragon

Dinner Table Talks create the opportunity for families to have important conversations centered around books. These discussions will build our capacity for talking about race and define our roles in fighting against both every day and systemic racism.

Yellow background with green dragon and girl in red dress

Nian, The Chinese New Year Dragon by Virginia Loh-Hagan

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Available as an ebook through Hoopla.

A young girl named Mei hates Springtime, because every Spring, Nian, a beastly dragon that loves to eat children, leaves his space under the sea and wreaks havoc and instills fear throughout the village. However, this time on the night before the first day of Spring, Mei is visited by a magical warrior who visits her in her dreams. He warns that his powers are getting weaker, as Nian’s are growing stronger, and he then tells her that it is her destiny to defeat Nian in fifteen days or Nian will be free to cause terror forever. Inspired by the folktale about the legendary dragon, Nian, Loh-Hagan provides a few extra twists and turns, while also sharing the origins of the annual Lunar New Year.

Guidelines for Discussion

Be open and honest--even when it's hard.
Understand your own prejudice and bias.
Embrace other cultures or races by reading books, watching movies and going to community events.
Celebrate yourself and your own cultural identity.
Don't shy away from conversations about race. Talking is how you build capacity for anti-racism.
Acknowledge your mistakes and learn from them.
It's okay not to know the answer. Look for it together.

Adapted from the Embrace Race and MomsRisings' 10 Tips for Teaching and Talking to Kids About Race and Richland Library's Let's Talk Race team

Questions for Conversation

Younger Children (Preschool-2nd Grade)

Lunar New Year is often called Chinese New Year, but it's celebrated by many countries and cultures--not just China. Why should we learn about other countries and cultures celebrations?
Who can be a hero? Do heroes have to look a particular way?
The story of Nian, the Chinese New Year Dragon explains the traditional ways that people celebrate this holiday: throwing firecrackers, wearing red clothing and making lots of noise. What are the ways that your family or your culture celebrate New Year's?
What was your favorite part of the story?
In the book Nian is a fierce dragon, but in the video, Nian turns out to be a friend to the main character--not a monster. Should we make assumptions about someone based on what other people say? How can we find out what someone is really like?
What do you hope for in the new year?

Older Children (3rd Grade & Older)

Lunar New Year is often called Chinese New Year, but it's celebrated by many countries and cultures--not just China. Why do you think it's important to call the celebration Lunar New Year and not Chinese New Year?
Are heroes always boys or typically abled? Why does it matter to have heroes who look like you or like your friends?
The story of Nian, the Chinese New Year Dragon explains the traditional ways that people celebrate this holiday: throwing firecrackers, wearing red clothing and making lots of noise. What are the ways that your family or your culture celebrate New Year's?
What was your favorite part of the story? Why?
In the book Nian is a fierce dragon, but in the video, Nian turns out to be a friend to the main character--not a monster. Can you think of a time that you made an assumption about a person based on what someone else said or your opinion? Was your assumption right or wrong?
What do you hope for in the new year?

Family Activity

While reading Nian, the Chinese New Year Dragon we learn of several traditional ways in which people celebrate the New Year. Asian cultures have used lanterns for ages not only as sources of light or paper decoration, they also symbolize vitality, social status and good luck. Traditionally, hanging lanterns during Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year was said to be a lucky charm that frightened away the Nian monster.

Watch the video below, and learn how to make your own lantern!