Bruce Edward Hall

April 14, 1954 - October 31, 2003    NY Sun Obituary

October 29, 2005, Burial Service, Eulogy by Herbert Hall

March 27, 2010, Memorial Service for Herbert Hall

Henry and the Kite Dragon

Henry and the Kite Dragon wins
Jane Addams Award read press release

Henry Chu lives in Chinatown in the 1920s; his favorite thing to do is help Grandfather Chin create beautiful, elaborate kites and to fly them. Unfortunately, Tony Guglione and his friends from Little Italy (the next neighborhood over) do not possess the same respect and awe as Henry and his friends and in the opening sequence, it's rocks from Italian kids that destroy one of Grandfather Chin's most beautiful kites. Over and over again, they tear down these gorgeous creations until Henry and his friends confront the boys, only to learn that it's how the kites frighten their homing pigeons that they don't like. The boys reach a compromise, dividing the day's flying between them. Hall's story, based an incident in his father's life, subtly teaches that bigotry and hatred is often based in ignorance.

Low fills his pages with vibrant, glowing color for the kites and expressive faces that allow the reader to feel the passion, fear, and finally acceptance of the characters. The varying perspectives from street level to rooftop, from distance to close-up, all create a vividly imagined scene. An excellent resource for teaching diversity-and a little urban history as well. (Picture book. 5-9). 

Buy Henry and the Kite Dragon ($11.19 ― 30% off list price)

See photos of Book Signing party

Bruce Edward HallBruce Edward Hall is a freelance writer and fourth-generation Chinese-American. He is the author of Tea That Burns: A Family Memoir of Chinatown and Diamond Street: The Story of the Little Town with the Big Red Light District. His articles have appeared in The New York Times, New York magazine and American Heritage. He lives in New York City. 

Sailing in Central Park with Bruce (by Andy Padre)

Read Comments by Friends of Bruce

Movies

The Muppets Take Manhattan

Literary Work

I Thought My Father Was God; and Other True Tales from NPR's National Story Project, $1,380 Per Night, Double Occupancy 

Tea That Burns : A Family Memoir of Chinatown - The history of New York City's Chinatown, as told by a fourth-generation Chinese-American

Diamond Street: The Story of the Little Town with the Big Red Light District - The true story of small-town prostitution and institutionalized vice. Two books on fascinating aspects of New York State history.

American Heritage A Walk Through Chinatown with My Great Grandfather

TimeOut The Forbidden City

Also by Bruce Edward Hall

curriculum vitae

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