Henry and The Kite Dragon by Bruce Edward Hall, Ill. William Low.

Henry Chu and his neighbor, Grandfather Chin, live in New York's Chinatown in the late 1920's, where Mr. Chin builds spectacular kites. One day a gorgeous butterfly kite goes to close to some pigeons owned by boys from an Italian section of town, and the fights begin. How the fights between Henry and his friends against the Italian boys end is the crux of this satisfying, memorable book. Like so many children's books, this one has a message, but it's done so well that I can live with it. The art is enchanting!