Long Goes to Dragon School

by Helen H. Wu, Mae Besom (Illustrator)

It's the first day of Dragon School, where all the young dragons must learn how to harness their fire breath. Today's lesson? Using it to cook food! All the dragons are excited to test their powers . . . except Long.

Long is from the East and can only breathe out water. No matter how hard he huffs and puffs, he isn't sure he can match his fire breathing classmates. But will he be discovered? Or will Long find his own unique path to cooking-and to fitting in?

Genres: Picture Books, Dragons, Fantasy, Childrens, Fiction, School

36 pages, Hardcover

Published March 21, 2023

About the author

Helen H. Wu is a children’s book author and illustrator, as well as a translator and publisher. She is the author of Tofu Takes Time, illustrated by Julie Jarema (Beaming Books, 2022) and Long Goes To Dragon School, illustrated by Mae Besom (Yeehoo Press, 2023). Helen is the Associate Publisher of Yeehoo Press, a San Diego based children’s book publisher. Being fascinated by the differences and similarities between cultures, Helen loves to share stories that can empower children to understand the world and our connections. Born and raised in Hefei, China, Helen moved to the US in her 20s. Currently, she resides in sunny Southern California, with her family and two kids. Learn more about Helen at helenhwu.com and follow her on Twitter at @HelenHWu and on Instagram at @HelenHWu.

Reviews

[Sabina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soooo fuckin cute 😭😭😭😭 catch me reading this to children when I start my storytime reign of madness… literally some of the most gorgeous kids book illustrations I’ve ever seen 🫶🫶🫶

[Janet Bruins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was reading this to my nieces and remembered how wonderful this book is. It’s about Long, a dragon who knows he’s different and tries his best to fit in—only to discover a way to shine by staying true to himself. The watercolor art is beautiful, and there are so many funny moments that make my nieces laugh every time. It’s a heartwarming, funny, and visually lovely book about embracing who you are.

[Deb Adamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone has unique gifts to share. This delightful story's message, will provide young children with an opportunity to see themselves in the main dragon character, Long. When he arrives at school Long discovers that all the other dragons breathe fire and he breathes water. What can he do? At first Long anguishes over his difference, but eventually comes to understand that being different isn't bad, in fact it can be refreshing and a welcome addition!
Celebrating cultural differences are a highlight of this must read for parents, teachers and anyone interested in cultivating an environment of acceptance and understanding. The soft watercolor Illustrations by Mae Besom are beautifully created and detailed, sure to draw the reader through multiple readings.

[Benson Shum · Rating 5 out of 5]

LONG GOES TO DRAGON SCHOOL by Helen Wu and Mae Besom is a wonderful story where Eastern dragons meet Western Dragons. The story follows Long as he navigates how to cook with fire at dragon school, but where Long comes from, they don’t cook with fire but breathe out water. Readers will instantly fall in love with Long and cheer him on as he discovers his secret.
Besom’s charming illustrations and Helen’s delicate text are a perfect match.

[Helena · Rating 5 out of 5]

An adorable story about accepting yourself and others, no matter the differences!

[Melanie Ellsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a chance to preview this book, and it's so much fun to read with gorgeous illustrations, humor, and dragons! It feels very relatable for kids, with the dragon named Long trying to adjust to school and learning that it’s okay to have different talents from the other dragons. Readers will giggle at the various attempts the dragons make to roast a potato with their fiery (and watery!) breath. Long’s dragon teacher is supportive and encouraging, and the message of finding your own path based on your unique abilities is so important to share with kids. I LOVE maps in books, and this one includes a map showing the different homelands of all of Long’s dragon classmates. The author’s note at the end explains the importance of dragons in Chinese culture. This is a wonderful book for home libraries and also to share in classrooms to spark conversations about cultural traditions and the value of persevering, understanding, and being a unique individual in a cohesive community.

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Long Goes to Dragon School is a lovely book with an important message of embracing the differences between people (or dragons!). True to Chinese culture, dragons are known as water spirits. Therefore, Long breathes out water, but all the other dragons in his school breathe fire. How can Long help with the class picnic if he can’t roast, toast, and grill food? I love how all the young dragons have a little bit of trouble getting started before they learn under the guidance of their wise teacher how to breathe fire in a useful way for cooking. And also, although it takes Long much more time than his friends and he does become frustrated, he continues to remain patient as he figures out what important task he can bring to the picnic. A fun book with beautiful illustrations and a poster on the back of the book jacket. The stuffed dragons look ADORABLE, too!

[Norene Paulson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet story for any child who's ever felt "out of place". Long, a water-breathing Chinese dragon, finds himself in a school where all the other dragons breath fire. He tries to fit in, but the anxiety of not being like his other dragon-mates is overwhelming. He can't breath fire, so he can't complete the roasting/cooking assignment. He begins to feel like a failure. However, by remembering Professor McKay's words..."find your own path", Long is able to use his unique ability to breathe water to complete the task in his own unique way. Wu and Besom have created a wonderful story celebrating individuality, acceptance, and personal pride--a story that will resonate with readers young and old. Highly recommend this one for your bookshelf.

[Ellen Leventhal · Rating 5 out of 5]

On Long's first day of dragon school, he finds that all the other little dragons breathe fire, but he breathes water. What to do? At first, he pretends to be like the others. But when he gathers the courage to tell the teacher and the other little dragons what he really does, he is accepted for who he is and finds that although his abilities differ from his classmates, his unique gifts are just as important as theirs. Feeling different is something that many children deal with, and this sweet story will ring true to and comfort children who sometimes feel like outsiders. The words and the beautiful illustrations mesh perfectly to create a lovely book with an important but not didactic message. I highly recommend this book!

[Yafeng Wu · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cultural exchange and collision between East and West is an eternal theme, and it is always challenging. Especially in such an era of frequent exchanges but strained international relations. The dragon, or loong (龙) in Chinese, is the most important and prominent cultural symbol in Chinese civilization. This story uses a Chinese loong's learning in a western dragon school as a metaphor, which is very clever and thought-provoking. Simple story contains the truth of cultural coexistence and cooperation.

[Carol Gordon Ekster · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's the first day of dragon school and Long is different than the other dragons - he only gushes water and can not breathe fire. But Long finds his way in this sweet and well written Chinese tale written by a first-generation Chinese immigrant. Illustrations are warm and inviting. A lovely picture book that children will want to hear again and again.

[Anne Wynter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This stunningly-illustrated book shares the story of Long, a dragon who goes to dragon school, where they're learning to cook food by breathing fire. But there's a big problem - Long can only breathe water! While Long feels left out at first, they all discover that his water-breathing talents are extremely useful in preparing their feast. This is an uplifting, fun tale filled with lush, detailed illustrations that will take your breath away.

[Mengyu]

A celebration of self-love and cultural differences. The artwork is gorgeous and the Eastern and Western dragons are adorable. Kids, parents, and educators will enjoy reading this witty and heartwarming book again and again.

[Kate Allen Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartwarming and exquisitely illustrated story of finding and embracing your unique abilities! Long goes to Dragon School but has trouble fitting in until he sees how his talents make him special. With great mindfulness tie-ins, this story is perfect for dragon-lovers and kids who feel like they don't always fit in. An author's note details how Helen Wu's immigration experience inspired the story. A wonderful addition to schools, libraries, and homes.

[Rebecca Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Long goes to dragon school, one of the first things they are learning is cooking. Most dragons can breathe fire, but Long only breathes water. He is worried that he is going to fail this part of the school, due to not being able to cook with fire. But he, and the class, are in for a surprise.

Cute story! While we are all unique, we all bring something different to the table, (no pun intended), and add value wherever we are. Loved this!

[Joan Marr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic story of finding your own, unique way of interacting with the world - and how even if that way is different from the way others do things, it's okay to be different. Truly beautiful illustrations and a lovely groups of characters make this a fun read for kids and adults alike!

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

My three year old loved this little story. The illustrations are so cute and the story has a very important message. Everyone is different and has their own talents.

[Xia Lei · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book deserves 5stars! As a girl who also follows this culture, it’s very inspirational to me. The illustrations were very creative. I think the best part was when Long found his talent and didn’t feel lonely any more.

[Buffy Silverman · Rating 5 out of 5]

For every child who ever feels different at school--and that's every child! All the dragons at dragon school are learning to harness their fire and roast potatoes. But Long doesn't breathe fire--dragons breathe out water where Long lives. Long finds how to use his unique abilities and the other dragons learn to see him in a new light.

[Charlotte Offsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Long heads to dragon school and quickly finds that all his classmates can breathe fire while he breathes water. He struggles to keep up with the fire-breathing assignments and hides his difference from the rest of the class. Eventually, though, Long finds his voice and embraces his true self. A sweet story of culture and self-acceptance.

[Marta · Rating 5 out of 5]

LONG GOES TO DRAGON SCHOOL will be out in the spring of 2023. It is a charming picture book for those little ones who are fascinated by dragons, but it has a little something extra to it. We learn that dragons in China don't have a reputation for being fire breathers. Instead, we learn in the author's note that they are water spirits, responsible for the waterways and rains. So Long, the little Chinese dragon cannot manage to do well in his cooking class because he spits out water instead of fire. Accepting that he is different, his dragon professor teaches him to breathe hot water to perfectly steam his pumpkin. To give children a taste of other cultures is always a step forward in our accepting and understanding our differences. Books such as this one is one step in that direction.

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dragons from both the East and the West come together in a swirl of colors and discover their very own talents in a delightful way.

It's Long's first day at dragon school, and all of his classmates come from the West where as he is from the East. Not that this makes any difference, since they are all dragons and have fun together...or at least, until Long realizes that dragons from the West breathe fire and not water like him. This becomes a huge problem when it's time to practice using the fire for cooking class. Long is going to do his best, but he has no idea how to keep this from ending up badly.

I'm going to start with the illustrations, since these are beautifully done and have their very own style and touch. Made with aquarelles, the scenes take on a hint of fantasy and dreams while still keeping details clear enough to recognize. It's a whirl of colors, which sinks each scene into a fitting atmosphere. I was especially surprised how well the style made each dragon, especially the teacher, border on at hints of dangerous and awe, while still making them inviting and fun to join.

The tale is easy to follow and flows well. The intended age group will recognize the classroom setting and sympathize with the situation, while being caught up in the entire wonderfulness of dragons. Long is fun to root for as he tries his best, and it isn't clear how everything will turn out. The end twist is clever and pulls off the message of valuing differences and talents without every steering even sightly close to becoming preachy. It's simply fun to cheer for Long when he solves his problem and join in the happiness with the rest of the class.
I received a DRC and enjoyed meeting Long and his classmates.

[Karen Greenwald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Long is a young dragon with a very stressful secret. Apparently, he isn't like his dragon classmates. He isn't capable of breathing fire--but how can he hide it when faced with a school test requiring him to roast a potato? All of his classmates may struggle with the challenge, but they're closer to succeeding than a water-breathing dragon! Long's journey from fear and embarrassment to acceptance and then pride in himself is beautifully written by Wu. His evolution challenges readers to examine their own strengths--and encourages them to be proud of who they are and how their talents and skills are assets. Besom's artwork is done in watercolor which creates a sense of motion and fluidity that pairs perfectly with Long's secret...power. Characters in the illustrations also offer comments that will draw readers in and engage with the images. Wu includes poignant and educational backmatter that further connects with young and older readers alike.

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anxious times for Long the dragon – for one of the first class activities at Dragon School is for all the pupil dragons to roast something in their fiery breath ready for the school picnic. The only thing is, Long is a water dragon, and is never going to be able to breathe fire at all. Will he be able to fit in, or find his own path – or will he remain a failure? It's a simple tale, but done well, even if the watercoloured art can make the page a bit too busy at times. Presentation includes a poster design on the back of the dust jacket, and a couple of quirks I didn't quite take to – small font as part of the images give us the dialogue at some remove from the narrative text, and once or twice reading order was questionable. That said, nothing about this is going to leave the target reader behind, and they'll find the moral nicely delivered.

[The Silvan Reverie | Sarah Street · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is heartwarming and carries a nice message of inclusion and celebrating everyone's unique gifts, but isn't heavy-handed in its messaging. The narrative follows Long the Dragon, who is a water dragon and not a fire dragon like all the other dragons at school, and we are able to really enter in to Long's perspective and feelings as we read through each page. The illustrations capture the fantastical and evoke warm feelings of school and community. The author's experience as a first-generation immigrant student in America inspired the story and it shows how much care went in to being sensitive to others who have this experience and doing so in an age-appropriate way for a picture book audience. Beautifully done!

***Note: I was given a review copy of this book via Yeehoo Press. Opinions are my own.

[Charessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Yeehoo Press for a complimentary copy!

This was so cute. I just love the watercolor illustrations and the story is a simple one of being different meaning you bring something to the table that someone else doesn't.

Long is a dragon who breathes water instead of fire, but he feels like he needs to learn how to breathe fire so he can not only keep up with his classmates and do well in class, but to help with preparing food. He later discovers that it isn't a bad thing that he can't breathe fire--he has his own talent and that talent is just as helpful!

I appreciate the author's note at the end that reinforces this message, that everyone is different and learning from others helps you discover your own talents. It's wonderful and given the final sentence of the book, I sincerely hope we are getting more of Long's adventure at Dragon School.

[SeasonsOfKidLit · Rating 5 out of 5]

#SeasonsOfKidLit's Peek-a-BOO review!

Blurb: Long Goes to Dragon School, by Helen H. Wu, Mae Besom, and Yeehoo Press, follows Long the dragon as he heads to school. He learns he’s not quite like his classmates and cannot breathe fire. Instead, he breathes water which may pose a problem in cooking class when the others are roasting vegetables. Long must find another way to cook his meal.

Heather Macht says: Wu’s inspiring message of being true to yourself paired with Besom’s lively illustrations makes Long Goes to Dragon School a great addition to any home or school library!

Lynne Marie says: This wonderful story will appeal to any child, who, like Long (a water dragon), feels that they don't fit in (in his class of fire breathers). In a clever twist, Long shows both himself and his class that it's okay to be yourself.

[Medeia Sharif · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is there hope for a water-breathing dragon surrounded by fire-breathing dragons? Long is a water-breathing dragon, and he doesn’t fit in with his peers. Long is such an amazing character to root for as he stands out when all he wants to do is be like all the other dragons mastering their fiery skills. He doesn’t realize how talented and gifted he truly is until he does something his classmates cannot do. This book celebrates diversity, uniqueness, and perseverance. I loved how Long received encouragement along the way. The soft and colorful watercolor illustrations are an excellent match to this dragon tale.

[Namita Mehra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this book about a sweet little dragon, called Long, who breathes out water instead of fire! Of course, I loved that the story was kind of about food (using their powers to cook and have a picnic!) and a LOVED the resolution where Long is able to let ut steam instead of fire and can steam the pumpkin instead of roasting it! It gives so many children hope ....dare to be different! Not every dragon breathes fire! You can be different and awesome too. Such a sweet and simple story but told so beautifully and with the most gorgeous illustrations! I hope there will be more stories about Long's adventures at Dragon school...

[Lily Li · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like Helen Wu's "Tofu takes time" and Mae Besom's "What do you do with" series, this book is a must read. As a first-generation immigrant same as Helen, the message of the story resonates with me very much: you don't have to be the same as others to fit in. Don't be afraid of being different, and embrace your uniqueness. It took my years to understand, and I would like to pass that along to my kids. This book is a great messenger.

This book also seems like the first of a whole series. We are really looking forward to what comes next. "Where are the other parts on the map? Where's Mia's story?" My 8yo asked me after finishing the book.