Wang Ping was born on August 14, 1957 in Shanghai, China. She is a poet, photographer,
performance artist, dancer, singer, English professor emerita at Macalester College at
St. Paul, MN and author. She writes poetry, short stories, fiction and nonfiction for
both children and adults. She has written more than ten books.
The Dragon Emperor: A Chinese Folktale was illustrated by Tang Ge and published
in 2008. It tells the tale for 7-to-10 year olds of the emperor of China, Ying Long, who
was also born a dragon. But there is a plot by Chi You to overthrow the emperor and
take control of China. The Black Dragon is on his side. Booklist wrote that ". . . the
legend itself is beautifully told, including colorful details of warriors who ate 'sand,
rocks and metal for meals' as well as down-to-earth cultural context, such as the
invention of the first compass."