Asia

Materials from Asia

Tsunami!

Ojiisan, the oldest and wealthiest man in the village, doesn’t join the others at the rice ceremony. Instead he watches from his balcony. He feels something is coming—something he can’t describe. When he sees the monster wave pulling away from the beach, he knows. Tsunami!  But the villagers below can’t see the danger. Here is the unforgettable story of one man’s simple sacrifice saved hundreds of lives. An extraordinary celebration of both the power of nature and the power each of us holds within.

Little Leap Forward: A Boy In Beijing

A sensitively written, real-life sory about a boy called Litle Leap Forward, growing up in he hutongs of Beijing in the 1960’s, at the time of the Cultural Revolution. Little Leap offers children an intimate and immediate account of a child’s experiences as Mao Tse Tung’s Great Leap Forward policy tightens its grip on China.

Elephant Run

In 1941, bombs drop from the night skies of London, demolishing the apartment Nick Freestone lives in with his mother. Deciding the situation in England is too unstable, Nick’s mother sends him to live with his father in Burma, hoping he will be safer living on the family’s teak plantation. But as soon as Nick arrives, trouble erupts in this remote Burmese elephant village. Japanese soldiers invade, and Nick’s father is taken prisoner. Nick is stranded on the plantation, forced to work as a servant to the new rulers. As life in the village grows more dangerous for Nick and his young friend, Mya, they plan their daring escape. Setting off on elephant back, they will risk their lives to save Nick’s father and Mya’s brother from a Japanese POW camp. In this thrilling journey through the jungles of Burma, Roland Smith explores the far-reaching effects of World War II, while introducing readers to the fascinating world of wild timber elephants and their mahouts.

The Night of the Moon: A Muslim Holiday Story

This vibrantly illustrated picture book invites children to experience the traditions of Ramadan and Eid through the eyes of a seven-year-old Pakistani-American girl named Yasmeen.

Featured in WOW Review Volume IX, Issue 1.

The Peace Bell

Yuko’s grandmother remembers that when she was a little girl many years ago in Japan, her town’s beautiful temple bell was taken away to be used as scrap metal for the war effort. She thought she’d never see it again. After the war the bell was brought to America by a U. S. Navy crew who found it abandoned in a Japanese shipyard. Most amazing of all, the bell was later returned to Japan as a gesture of friendship between the former warring countries.

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.