In order to save his family, a Chinese boy turns into a fighting cricket and becomes the emperor’s champion.
The Cricket Warrior: A Chinese Tale
Asia
Materials from Asia
Kancil And The Crocodiles: A Tale From Malaysia
A mouse deer and a tortoise trick some hungry crocodiles into helping them cross a river but fail to plan for their getting back.
Hero Of The Land Of Snow
Recounts the Tibetan myth about the magical birth and heroic exploits of young Gesar.
The Magical Starfruit Tree: A Chinese Folktale
A stingy peddler is chastised for his miserly ways by an old beggar with magical powers.
Willow Pattern Story, The
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.
I Once Was A Monkey: Stories Buddha Told
A retelling of six Jatakas, or birth stories, which illustrate some of the central tenets of Buddha’s teachings, such as compassion, honesty, and thinking clearly before acting.
Colors Of Japan (Colors Of The World)
Explores the different colors found in Japan’s history, culture, and landscape.
The Runaway Rice Cake
After chasing the special rice cake, Nian Gao, that their mother has made to celebrate the Chinese New Year, three poor brothers share it with an elderly woman and have their generosity richly rewarded.
Ten Suns: A Chinese Legend
When the ten sons of Di Jun walk across the sky together causing the earth to burn from the blazing heat, their father looks for a way to stop the destruction.
Yuki’s Ride Home
After a perfect day together with Grandma—feeding koi in the pond, folding origami paper in the garden, eating a delicious dinner, and listening to the “night music” by the water—Yuki realizes too late that night has come. Waving goodbye to Grandma, Yuki knows she’ll have to be brave to make it home without anyone’s help. Even though Grandma wants her three pets to accompany Yuki home, Yuki sends them back, because she doesn’t want Grandma to be lonely.