Lunar New Year is almost here. What better time to celebrate lion dancing?
Benson Shum has visited my blog several times before. He has illustrated a number of picture books and is also an animator at the Walt Disney Animation Studios. Originally from Vancouver, British Columbia, Benson now lives in sunny Southern California. He uses watercolor, ink and digital tools to create his illustrations. You can learn more about him at his website or follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or BlueSky.
WE ARE LION DANCERS is a sweet story of sister and brother, Lily and Noah, who are at kung fu club and see a colorful costume that they can’t ignore. The lion dancers are there to practice for the Lunar New Year parade. They show the inquisitive kids the costumes and some of the moves. This is a perfect read aloud to introduce the topic to young readers and I can imagine it in many classrooms. In fact, this is now one of my new favorites that I want to add to my own classroom holiday collection!
Welcome back Benson!
Me: I love introducing lion dancers to young readers like this. It’s such a fun introduction! What gave you the idea for this story?
Benson: Thank you! Yes, I also loved the lion dance at a young age. I was fascinated by the costume, the design, the music, the dance. I was also part of a kung fu club that also had a lion dance club. And I always wanted to write a book about my experience and what it was like.
Me: Did you have to do a lot of research about lion dancing to get details accurate in your story and illustrations?
Benson: I was very fortunate I was part of a lion dance club. I got to learn and see different aspects of the performance. When I got to hold the head of the lion for the first time, it was pretty cool. The frame of the head is made of bamboo and the strings attached inside make a pulley to make the eyes blink. There is a flap for the jaw and you use your wrist to make it move when you’re dancing. The mechanics of the costume were so detailed and intricate as well.
Me: You have drawn so many different and detailed lion dance costumes in this story. Did you enjoy crafting the different kinds of costumes? Or did you come to regret having to draw so many of them?
Benson: The detailing and design of the lion costume is incredible. I wanted to incorporate as much as I can but also didn’t want to visually overwhelm the reader. I tried to simplify it but try to still keep true to the design. It was a challenge, but a fun challenge. haha yes, there were quite a few of them, but I really enjoyed drawing them. And also playing with all the different kinds of lion dance colors. When researching, there are so many more colors than what I saw growing up. A little detail I added was the outfit colors of the dancers. It was the colors of our kung fu club, so it’s an ode to them 🙂
Me: What is one thing that surprised you in creating this story?
Benson: What surprised me was after I made the book, I found out there was another type of lion. There is one that has the head of a unicorn, which is really cool. My brother-in-law told me about it as he was part of that club when he was young.
Me: I love that Lily and Noah design their own lion costume at home. I was surprised there wasn’t a craft activity for this at the back of the book. Is this something you might consider doing as a craft at book signings and/or school presentations or possibly posting on your website later (I noticed you already had some wonderful book activities posted there)?
Benson: Thank you, that would be cool to have an activity for building a lion dance costume. Although I haven’t had a chance to make one, it would be cool to see what students/adults would make using their imaginations!
Me: This is your second book about the Lunar New Year for Penguin Workshop. Is it your favorite holiday? Why two books about it? Do you consider this story a companion to ALEX’S GOOD FORTUNE?
Benson: Lunar New Year was very big for me growing up, and in books we usually focus on the classical traditions. But this time, I wanted to share another part of the celebration and parade. And if you look carefully in the book, you’ll actually see a cameo of Alex and Ethan in the illustrations! I think they’ll make a great companion book!
Me: Have you ever been a lion dancer yourself or known anyone who has done it?
Benson: Yes, I was a member of a Lion Dance club when I was younger. I usually played the part of the tail, because I’m a bit taller, so when we do jumps and lifts, it’ll make the lion look bigger. But sometimes I practiced being the head. It’s really fun, but the best part is being part of the team. You have to trust one another when performing. We have to do jumps and choreography and it all has to be in sync. And being the tail, I am actually staring at the ground the whole time, so I’m counting the beats and feeling the rhythm with my partner who would be driving the head.
That sounds like it was quite fun! Thank you for stopping by my blog again today Benson.
But wait, dear readers! There’s more! Benson has agreed to giveaway one copy of his book to a lucky winner (US contestants only). You can enter the rafflecopter here.