Grace was at the park.
Today was her cousin's dragon boat race!
"I have to meet my team now," her cousin, Peter, said.
"The race starts soon."
"Good luck!" said Grace.
Grace and Dad walked toward the river.
"Look!" Grace pointed to the boats on the water.
They all had tall dragon heads and tails.
"In China there's a dragon boat festival every spring," said Dad.
"Why are all the boats shaped like dragons?" asked Grace.
"Long ago farmers believed that dragons would bring rain," said Dad.
"Rice needs lots of rain to grow."
Just then Grace saw Peter with his team.
He looked worried.
"One of our paddlers is sick," Peter said.
"We can't race."
"I can paddle," said Grace.
"Thanks, Grace," Peter said.
"But you don't know how to paddle a dragon boat."
Grace shrugged. "I know how to row a canoe."
The boat captain heard Grace.
"Let's give her a chance.
The race starts in a few minutes!"
"Okay," Peter said.
Grace jumped into the boat.
Peter gave her a paddle and showed her what to do.
Then a horn blew.
The dragon boats were off!
Boom! Boom! The captain stood in front with a drum.
Each time she banged the drum, the twenty paddlers paddled.
A boy in the back steered.
Boom! Whoosh! Boom! Whoosh!
The dragon boat flew over the water.
The crowd roared from the shore.
Grace cheered as their boat zipped across the finish line.
"Third place!" cried Peter.
"Thanks, Grace. You saved the day!"