Dragon Eyes

Char Lo Mein is a wise and compassionate dragon who presides over and protects the village of Tuking. As the years pass, his scales begin to flake off, his bones turn brittle, and he knows he must soon find someone who can replace him as the village guardian. Out of all the villagers, the wise old dragon chooses Chou Ling—a ten-year-old girl.

Chou Ling is already highly skilled in the art of judo, but Char Lo Mein sees something even more important when he looks at her—a pure heart. Reminding her of his teachings about peace, love, and compassion, the dying dragon advises Chou Ling on how important it is to choose the way of love to heal the world and protect the people he’s leaving in her care. But when the dragon is gone—she’ll still just be a ten-year-old girl, only this time she’ll be alone. Did Char Lo Mein choose the right person? Can Chou Ling fulfill her promise?

Written like an Asian folktale, Dragon Eyes gently exposes children to the concept of death while also teaching them the important, and surprising, lesson that love is more powerful than violence.