China

Materials from China

Wildlife (China: Land, Life, And Culture)

Young readers will learn all about China in this fascinating series. Each book covers one aspect of this nation that is as large as a continent and ever growing in influence and importance. Readers of this series will learn about the history of China; its government, wildlife, arts, and culture; and all the things that grow in the countryside and are produced in the cities. Easy-to-understand text and lots of photos and special features bring this nation alive. with the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, the eyes of the world are now on China. This series will help students better understand that part of the globe.

Arts and Culture (China: Land, Life, And Culture)

This book is a captivating insight into art and culture in China. It is part of a series that explores the daily life, traditions and beliefs of the Chinese people. Through the first-hand personal accounts the reader will learn about China’s history and its ancient cultures. They can examine the varied landscapes, the native plants and animals, and the diverse peoples of one of the largest countries on Earth.

Through Time: Beijing (Through Time)

Through Time: Beijing traces the rise and fall of great dynasties and the everyday lives of the citizens who prospered or suffered under their rule. Beginning in prehistoric times, an agricultural community slowly evolves. Farming villages then come under the control of a local lord, and by the medieval period an imperial palace is taking shape. This new capital is then overthrown by invading Mongols, who destroy it and build their own city. Later, the Mongols are replaced by the Ming, who create the legendary Forbidden City and rule China for the next five hundred years. The book’s fluent narrative text and beautiful illustrations tell the enthralling story of BeijingÑits triumphs, conflicts, and people–right up to the present day. 

Little Green: Growing Up During The Chinese Cultural Revolution

This first-person memoir tells the story of Chun Yu, who was born in a small city in China, during the Chinese Cultural Revolution. The streets were filled with roaming Red Guards, the walls were covered with slogans, and reeducation meetings were held in all workplaces. Every family faced danger and humiliation, even the youngest children. Shortly after Chun’s birth, her beloved father was sent to a peasant village in the countryside to be reeducated in the ways of Chairman Mao. Chun and her brother stayed behind with their mother, who taught in a country middle school where Mao’s Little Red Book was a part of every child’s education. Chun Yu’s young life was witness to a country in turmoil, struggle, and revolution — the only life she knew.

Red Land Yellow River: A Story from the Cultural Revolution

In 1966 Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution swept through China and transformed the life of Beijing teenager Ange Zhang. Ange longed to join the Red Guard with his classmates, but was denied membership after his father, a famous writer, was arrested and charged with being a counter-revolutionary. As Ange struggled to maintain his friends’ respect, he began to question the Revolution and his role in it.

Tales from within the Clouds: Nakhi Stories of China

South of the clouds, in the land of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, dwell the descendants of a once pastoral people, the Nakhi. In ancient times, family names were passed from mother to child, there were no marriages, and women alone raised children. In the Nakhi language, there is no word for “father.” Today there are still Nakhi who follow these traditions, and Nakhi folktales reflect these beliefs. In the legends presented here we are introduced to a fantastic cast of characters: plants, insects, animals – all of them female! (Nakhi people, Naxi language)

Learning From The Dalai Lama: Secrets From The Wheel Of Time

For children, here is a simple and creative introduction to the Buddhist way of life and to the teachings of the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism. Text and photos explain the beautiful and intricate Kalachakra ceremony and initiation, and the meaning of the sand mandala and its symbols. Features a foreword by Richard Gere. Full color.

Three Names of Me

Ada has three names. Wang Bin is what the caregivers called her at her Chinese orphanage. Ada is the name her American parents gave her as the three traveled home. And there is a third name, a name the infant Ada only heard whispered by her Chinese mother. That name, unknown but treasured, is someplace in Ada’s heart. Additonal pages based on Ada’s scrapbook will inspire readers to collect their own drawings, photos, and thoughts.