I received a copy of this audiobook from netGalley for a honest review.

This book is pure magic! The audio is so well done making you feel as if you really are walking the forest. A beautiful story and I have the feeling that the pictures are amazing too given the cover.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Catherine Ho for MacMillan Publishing. The soft music lends itself to perfectly complement Catherine’s voice. This would be an excellent bedtime or resting time book to help little ones relax while stimulating their imaginations as they drift away.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Julie Leung, and MacMillan Publishing for allowing me to listen to this audiobook and share my honest thoughts and opinions with others.

A very short enjoyable story with a deeper meaning, that I think will be even better when you have the book in hand so you can see the drawings.

Such a beautiful and heartfelt story. The sound effects and narration made you feel a part of the story.

*The Truth About Dragons* by Julie Leung is a captivating tale that seamlessly blends adventure and imagination. Leung's storytelling prowess shines through in this enchanting book, and offers a fun perspective on dragons. There is imaginative details, and the characters are well-developed. Leung's writing captures the wonder and mystery of dragons, while also exploring themes of courage and self-discovery. This book is a delightful journey that will appeal to both young readers and those young at heart. A must-read for anyone who loves a well-crafted fantasy adventure!

This story is fun and whimsical. It's mix of various mythology and fairytales makes for a culturally informative story for children. The narrator for the audiobook had a soft voice and the music in the background makes it good for a quick listen before a child's nap or bed time.

This is a beautiful story about the ways different cultures view dragons and using that metaphor to say that you don't have to pick just one set of cultural beliefs to be true for yourself.

I did think that this audiobook was pretty hard to understand without the illustrations. I needed to listen twice to really get it. I think it would be most enjoyable for kids who have read the picture book already or have the picture book to read along with the narration.

"The Truth About Dragons" by Julie Leung is a fictional children's picture book.

This review refers only to the audiobook narrated by Catherine Ho. Background music and sound effects add to the ambiance and magic of this story. She takes you on two short journeys each to meet a wise woman to tell you about dragons. One is in the woods, and those dragons live in caves. One is in the rocks up high and flies through the air. Each journey is magical, and I would willingly listen to this over and over.

Eastern and Western dragons are different, but they can co-exist. This is a way of explaining a child of mixed cultures.

Highly recommend this audiobook for children with visual challenges or as an accompaniment to the physical book. The picture book itself is a Caldecott Honor Book of 2024 and Winner of the 2024 Asian/Pacific American award for literature (picture books).

Thank you to Netgalley, MacMillan Audio, MacMillan Young Listeners, and Julie Leung for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I loved the story, but it was so short. When I was listening to the story I thought it was an introduction and I had to listen a few times to understand it was a very, very short story. The story was interesting in that the two parts of are being both contain a wise older woman and a dragon and that we must be brave to pursue our dreams.. I haven't seen the actual book, but it must be beautiful and this would be a great companion for the book.

I want to thank Macmillan Audio | Macmillan Young Listeners and NetGalley for an advance copy of this wonderful tale.

The Truth About Dragons (Hardcover)
by Julie Leung
Beautiful cover the reading by Catherine Ho is a sensational musical retelling of the the story with music and calm voice. The book shows the nature of dragons as told by wise women of the country side. The book shares the magic of your own quest to learn the truth of dragons. It shows the artistic and remarkable nature of dragons in Chinese legends.

My daughter and I listened to this one together, and the narrator's voice is perfect for the magical story, accented by music and sound effects that help transport you to the magical forest. This would make for a wonderful, soothing bedtime story, and would probably be best enjoyed with a copy of the physical book to travel through the beautiful pictures along with the narrator's soothing voice.

Thank you to NetGalley and McMillon Audio for the ARC for review. All opinions are my own.

This audiobook is really well done! I enjoyed the narrator, background music and extra noises added to enhance the story. I'm not usually an audiobook reader so I would've preferred to view the illustrations of the book while I was listening, as I'm sure this book would have beautiful illustrations to accompany this sweet story.

3 stars ✨

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced audio copy of The Truth About Dragons, in exchange for an honest review.

Audio🎧 Narrator Review
5/5

My daughter and I listened to this together. It’s only about 6 minutes long since it’s a children’s book. It’s pretty deep for a kids book though, and my daughter found it hard to understand. I think it would have been better if we had the physical copy. It’s a story about how two different cultures can make up a person. How regardless of which one they choose, it’s ok because they both exist simultaneously inside you. Great narration - but honestly would rather read the physical copy. Would recommend having physical copy along with audio.

The audiobook was beautifully written and the narrator was easy to listen to. The author made careful word choices that were very impactful. Overall, the book was well written and I did really enjoy it.

This was a sweet story about a parent telling a story to their child about the truth about dragons. Catherine Ho was a wonderful narrator, and the background music enhanced the story by giving it a playful, mysterious atmosphere. This would be a wonderful companion to the picture book.

A sweet simple story about having more than just me truth to things and how each person has their own truths and wisdoms to share and learning to collect and embrace more than one. It is also a BEAUTIFUL bedtime story because it’s f the calming music and the flowing water background.

Title: The Truth About Dragons
A Caldecott Honor Book and
Winner of the Asian Pacific American Award for Literature
Author: Julie Leung
Format: 🎧
Audiobook Narrator: Catherine Ho
Genre: Children’s Fiction
Publisher: Macmillan Audio/Macmillan Young Listeners
Pub Date: September 3, 2024
My Rating: 4.5 rounded up

A young child goes on a journey and visits two grandmothers in two very different forests to learn the truth about two dragons in folklore.
~The Western dragon is considered fire breathing and hides treasures.
~ Eastern dragons are considered majestic and wonderful.

Story is told as a mother tells a bedtime story as she wants her child to know the truth about dragons also to let her child know there are differences in the way we see what seems to be the same.

Audiobook is wonderful with music in the background. As I listened I could picture the young child glued to his mother’s words letting their imagination go into overdrive.
As a mother I always enjoyed bed time as it meant story time. Then as a grandmother it was even more joyful. . .
I only wish the story was longer!

Want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this early Audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for September 3, 2024.

4 Out Of 5 Star

The Truth About Dragons is a really fun and cute story to read to you own little blooming fantasy reader.

The Truth About Dragons is an adorable children’s book with vivid detail in an adventure for the readers to find the truth about dragons. The wise women guiding the journey are fantastic, and the message of family and believing in oneself is wonderful.

My 7 year old and 5 year old listened to the audiobook version of this story, which was well done. The reader did a fantastic job bringing the story to life, and the music and sound effects were well done.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this advanced audiobook copy.

This audiobook was made available for me to listen to and review by Julie Leung, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley.

This is a really sweet story. It encourages children to honor the courage and limitless imagination that's easier to access with the young. This is really fun and a bit of an adventure. I encouraged my Grands to dress up and seek dragons around the house and in the yard. I let them use flashlights and deeply regret agreeing to that🤣 otherwise this a perfect to use with kids to encourage them to create their own adventures.

This audiobook is narrated by Catherine Ho. Her voice is perfect for this story, full of warmth, gentleness and kindness. This is a high quality audio production and has a music track played lightly in the background. The music doesn't at all distract from the story and instead works to make the story feel magical.

Thank you to Julie Leung, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.