The villagers’ plan to create a splendid garden for their emperor gets bogged down in jealous arguments, happily resolved when the emperor himself comes to visit.
Asia
Materials from Asia
Who’s Hiding Here?
A rhyming text explores animal camouflage, while die-cut pages reveal the animals hiding throughout the book.
The Butterfly Hunt
A boy pursues and captures elusive butterflies but decides that it is more fun to carry home his memories than a trophy.
May We Sleep Here Tonight?
Several lost animals find a cozy house in the woods, settle down for the night, and are startled with the house’s very big owner arrives.
C Is for China
An alphabetical and photographic journey through China depicts its people, customs, history, religion, and beliefs. Reprint.
Caravan
A ten-year-old boy accompanies his father for the first time on a caravan trip through the mountains of Afghanistan to the city below where they will trade their goods at market.
Tiger and Turtle
Tiger says he saw the flower first, but Turtle disagrees. Through pages of glorious color, Tiger and Turtle continue their argument. They’re worthy opponents as a tiger’s claws could not harm a turtle’s shell any more than a turtle’s feet could outrun a tiger’s.
Rama and the Demon King
An Indian folktale about how Prince Rama rescues his wife from the evil demon king.
Elephant Dance
Grandfather tells many stories about his native India in answer to Ravi and Anjali’s questions, such as the tale of a procession of elephants on the feast of Divaali when he was a boy. This story includes facts about life in India, a list of cooking spices, and descriptions of Indian animals.
Geeta’s Day
Geeta’s day begins as most children’s do, but when she sets off to school, passing the kamar at the forge, the bhandari shaving a customer, and the mali weaving garlands of flowers to offer to the temple gods, her world begins to beat to the distinctive rhythm of Indian village life. Geeta’s Day highlights the unique things that make her world special, but it also reveals that much is the same for children everywhere.