The author retells a story heard as a child, one of many invented to explain the landscape on willow pattern china, popular for the last 200 years. In this, two young Chinese lovers are punished by one’s cruel mandarin father.
Primary (ages 6-9)
Material appropriate for primary age groups
Belching Hill
An old Japanese woman with a talent for making rice dumplings uses her wits to escape from a cavern filled with ogres.
The Painted Fan
When a brave maiden subdues a demon using a fan that had been given to her by her mother, she brings about the downfall of the tyrannical Lord Shang and reunites the imperial houses of Li and Chen.
The Story of Paper
After the Kang brothers get in trouble at school, they devise a way to make paper, which will make things easier for both their teacher and themselves, in a tale that includes a historical note and a recipe for home-made paper.
Terrible Eek
A father’s fear of the terrible leak ultimately saves him from a thief and wolf.
Anno’s Twice Told Tales
This book presents two tales from the Brothers Grimm, combined with Mr. Fox’s highly unusual interpretations of them.
The Story Of Kites
Long ago in China, three brothers become tired of chasing birds from their family’s rice fields and experiment with ways to make the job easier.
Two Of Everything
A poor old Chinese farmer finds a magic brass pot that doubles or duplicates whatever is placed inside it, but his efforts to make himself wealthy lead to unexpected complications.
The Ancient Chinese (Worlds Of The Past)
Explores various aspects of ancient Chinese culture, including art, government, societal structure, religion, and everyday life.
The Perfect Wizard: Hans Christian Andersen
A biography of the famous Danish writer of fairy tales, interspersed with excerpts from his stories.