History Ancient China

Red Butterfly

How a Princess Smuggled the Secret of Silk out of China
Author(s): 
Deborah Noyes
Illustrator(s): 
Sophie Blackall
Number of pages: 
32 pages
Copyright: 
2007
Publisher: 
Candlewick Press
Binding: 
Sewn Hardcover
Subject(s): 
Setting: 
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 

When I first read aloud Mary Daly's First Timeline to the children, it was the first time I had ever heard of the story of the young Chinese Princess and the cup of tea where the silk strands first unravel revealing themselves... such a captivating story.

Then Mary asked me to illustrate it for wider publication... and I just loved doing the Chinese teacup!

Well, last week at the library, browsing as I always do through the new picture books, I found a Chinese princess and the tale of the discovery of silk! I knew it as soon as I glanced at the cover.

Red Butterfly: How a Princess Smuggled the Secret of Silk out of China doesn't quite tell the same story as Mary's First Timeline-- but Mary's story, an old Chinese legend, is included in the Author's Note at the of the beautifully illustrated hardcover.

The story of the book, also based on an old Chinese legend, happens later--when silk was part of Chinese life and had yet to be known to the rest of the world. The Princess, about to leave her homeland to be married to a foreign prince, decides to secretly take with her something that will always remind her of home.

A darling picture book, to be enjoyed by kids of all ages, and bringing forth life in a different culture, a long time ago, and how materials things such as silk are easily taken for granted today.

Reviewed by: 
Review Date: 
2-13-2008

The Empty Pot

Book cover: 'The Empty Pot'
Author(s): 
Demi
Number of pages: 
32 pages
Copyright: 
1990
ISBN: 
0805049002
Publisher: 
Henry Holt
Binding: 
Softcover
Subject(s): 
Setting: 
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 

This lovely little storybook has been enjoyed by my preschoolers as well as my grade-school-aged children. As the moral of the story unfolds, this colorful story book exposes children to a little bit of Ancient China. It is the story of Ping, a child with a green thumb. However when the emperor gives Ping a seed to care for, he cannot even get a sprout from it. Yet all of the children of the land, who were also given seeds to nurture, return to the emperor's palace with beautiful flowers. Ping, humbled, gives the emperor his empty pot expecting to be scolded. Much to Ping's surprise, the emperor embraces him and names him his heir, for the seeds that he gave to the children had been baked and were sterile. This is a story that will give your children a beautiful example of honesty as well as courage and humility.

Reviewed by: 
Review Date: 
7-18-04