by Oliver Chin (Author), Charlene Chua (Illustrator)
Can Julie learn kung fu and get her black belt? Real kid power is more inspirational than Kung Fu Panda or The Karate Kid!
When Julie takes a kung fu class, she thinks getting a black belt will be easy. But her bold teacher says guess again! Since practice takes patience, Julie wonders, what would her movie idol Brandy Wu do? Can Julie take her lessons to heart, and exercise both her mind and body? Then will she develop the self-confidence and discipline necessary to take the Yellow belt test and show her brother, parents, and heroine the true "spirit" of this sport?Children and parents identify with Julie's attitude and journey. She is a modern, refreshing character who leads a diverse class and displays authentic girl power. This is an engaging introduction of martial arts to young children who enroll in after school programs. Inspired by a real girl in a taekwondo class, this story's lessons are applicable to any martial art, such as karate, ju-jitsu, aikido, judo, and wrestling.
Like real youngsters, Julie learns by doing. Teachers appreciate how the story promotes respect, conflict resolution, and self-defense, which in turn improves focus and concentration. Training builds confidence and social skills and improves physical fitness (coordination, balance, posture). Artist Charlene Chua's vibrant illustrations capture Julie's high-flying action and her evolving commitment with dynamic energy. The adventures continue in Julie Black Belt: The Belt of Fire! "Practice makes perfect. That's what Julie learns in her beginning kung fu class along with lessons about dedication and determination. (She thinks getting a black belt will be a snap.)...a high-action story that encourages deep reflection despite the action movie look."- San Francisco Chronicle
Front Jacket
Julie Black Belt is the kind of picture book I wished we read while we were taking karate. I really like that the main character is a girl with dreamy notions of becoming a black belt but gets daunted by the actual training. This is the reality of karate -- it's a marathon, not a sprint! But like karate, the act of doing and not giving up pays dividends in areas that cross beyond physical training: self-control, self-discipline, and self-confidence. Julie Black Belt's message also has an overarching theme of perseverance -- that achievement results from consistent hard work. --Pragmatic Mom
When Julie takes a kung fu class, she thinks getting a black belt will be easy. But her new instructor says guess again! As reality doesn't match her expectations, Julie wonders what would her matinee idol Brandy Wu would do. Julie takes her lessons to heart. But can this "white belt" pass the test to show her family, teacher, and heroine this sport's true spirit? A refreshing character that children identify with, Julie displays what real kid power is!Back Jacket
Julie Black Belt and its wonderful imagery are a great introduction for young readers into the world of martial arts. - Phillip Wong and Zhang Hong Mei, International Wushu gold medalists
Author Biography
Oliver Chin has written The Tales from the Chinese Zodiac series, Baltazar and the Flying Pirates, Welcome to Monster Isle, Timmy and Tammy's Train of Thought, and The Adventures of WonderBaby. He is writing Julie Black Belt's sequel and lives in San Francisco, California.
Charlene Chua was born in Singapore and raised on a diet of American cartoons and music in the midst of a booming Asian city. She now is an award-winning illustrator living with her husband and cats in Toronto, Canada, and illustrating Julie Black Belt's sequel.