This story is part of Reading Champion, a series carefully linked to book bands to encourage independent reading skills, developed with Dr Sue Bodman and Glen Franklin of UCL Institute of Education (IOE).

This traditional tale tells the story behind the Chinese proverb “Draw the dragons, dot the eyes” and the eye-dotting ceremony. A painter refuses to draw in the eyes of the dragons, but the Emperor will not listen…

Reading Champion offers independent reading books for children to practise and reinforce their developing reading skills.

Fantastic, original stories are accompanied by engaging artwork and a reading activity. Each book has been carefully graded so that it can be matched to a child’s reading ability, encouraging reading for pleasure.