Reading Julie Leung’s manuscript for “The Truth About Dragons” for the first time, Hanna Cha found herself moved to tears. A few lines from the story -- “Inside your heart is where the two forests meet. Both journeys are yours to take.
Both worlds are yours to discover” -- struck the Cha, 30, on a deeply personal level. This year, Cha became the first Korean American picture book writer-illustrator to receive the prestigious Caldecott Honor. “I actually cried when I first read it,” said Cha in an interview with The Korea Herald on Sunday.
“I wish I had heard it when I was younger. I was thinking how it would have been such a relief to realize earlier that I didn't need to choose anything. Just imagining a young me or even anyone younger hearing that they don't need to choose a direction, I wanted that for other kids.
” “The Truth About Dragons” follows a young child on a magical quest into two very different forests as his two grandmothers guide him to discover truths about dragons -- one reflecting Western traditions and the other based on dragons as they are depicted in Asian mythology and culture. “Western dragons are fearsome, fire-breathing and protect treasure. Usually, the hero has to slay them to claim the reward,” Cha explained.
“There is also another dragon. Eastern dragons are usually revered as gods and they reward you.” Capturing these stark contrasts was an artistic challenge.
Cha illustrated each dragon and its respective world usin.
