Ms. Grace Chang is the author of the new children's book Jin Jin the Dragon, on today's China. It presents a colorful world that is both exotic and lush. It is an overview of Chinese characters and especially the Chinese Dragon.  Ms Chang will discuss the meaning of her book, the significance of the “Dragon” in Chinese folklore and mythology, reflect on the coming Olympic Games and tell us about her life growing up in Beijing near “The Forbidden City.”

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Ms. Grace Chang is from a family of famous Chinese entertainers. She learned magic tricks in the courtyards of the Forbidden City, which was the home of the Chinese imperial palace from the mid-Ming Dynasty, in the 1400’s to the end of the Qing Dynasty between 1912 and 1924. The last imperial monarch Puyi was removed finally from his residence in 1924. After the invasion of China, in the 1930’s, the Japanese enthroned “Henry” Puyi as the puppet head of its Manchurian colony, known then as Manchukuo. 

Ms. Chang entered into the world of entertainment through the influence of her father who was a radio and stage personality. Ms. Chang was an illusionist and ringmaster, who created, performed and directed her own shows in a nationally acclaimed circus. Today she lives in Brooklyn with her family and has devoted many years to helping American families adopt thousands of Chinese children.