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In 2015, the gravesites of Chinese immigrants buried a century ago were unearthed beneath a church in a small town on the East Coast, opening up an unexpected chapter of American history.
 
The Lion Dancer tells the story of the first generation of Chinese laborers in America-men who, with a lion's endurance and quiet courage, hacked out a path in a harsh new land, took root, and made a life. From the West Coast to the East, they carried their Lunar New Year traditions with them, and those traditions blossomed into new cultural meanings and sources of spiritual strength in the new places where they settled.
 
The story is inspired by real historical events, and its primary creator, Gina Wei, is an artist who has lived in the United States for over ten years, whose own migrations and inner journey echo those of the story's characters. Its protagonist, Ah Wing, is a fictional character shaped from the lives of countless Chinese workers-a single, vivid figure distilled from many. No matter how hard immigrant life becomes, Ah Wing and his fellow townsmen always lay down their burdens on Lunar New Year's Day. They follow the customs of home as best they can, and the lion dance becomes Ah Wing's yearly ritual and spiritual vow. He believes that celebration itself is a kind of value-a birthright of all who stubbornly pursue a better life.
 
The book's spiritual themes are universal. It reaches across time and across communities, offering an enduring echo of human resilience. In its pages, people of different backgrounds gradually set aside prejudice, learn to accept and support one another, and finally share in the same joyful celebration-a quiet but powerful image for our own era.
 
Written in restrained, concise prose and accompanied by exquisite, hand-drawn illustrations, The Lion Dancer is a picture book that combines solid historical grounding with high artistic quality, inviting readers of all ages to hear the drumbeat of the lion and feel the strength to keep moving forward.