Jeanne M. Lee

Mu Lan is at her loom when she hears the Emperor's call to arms. She rides off to war in her father's stead, embarking on a journey of ten thousand miles that takes her away from home for ten years. Her courage and valor bring her to the Emperor's attention and to the Golden Court. When offered whatever she wishes as a reward, she asks only to go home. There she surprises her mother and father, sister and brother - but it is her comrades in arms who are most surprised of all.
The Song of Mu Lan is closely translated from an ancient text and echoes the rhythms of Chinese, which is here faithfully reproduced in original calligraphy by Chan Bo Wan, the artist's father. Jeanne M. Lee has rendered the panorama of characters in silken watercolors, providing a lush counterpoint to the spare, elegant text.… (mais)

The glorious day when a young child is old enough to join her family in bringing gifts to their ancestors in the graveyard has finally arrived. Thanh-Minh goes with great anticipation and is greeted by an old, frightening looking lady name Ba-Nam. With her black teeth, Ba-Nam smiles and frightens Thanh-Minh. Thanh-Minh and her cousin wonder off to pick fruit from the trees in the graveyard as their family is offering the gifts when a sudden rainstorm comes upon them. Frightened by the darkened sky, rain and thunder, the children find comfort in Ba-Nam who shelters them through the night. As morning comes, the family is grateful for the children's safe return and thanks Ba-Nam for her help and Ba-Nam jokes that now that the storm has thrown all of the fruit off of the trees, the children do not have to wonder off to climb trees for the fruit. This book's message is not to judge people by their appearances. As Thanh-Minh thought Ba-Nam was terrifying, Ba-Nam ends up saving Thanh-Minh and her cousin.… (mais)

This book was about a girl named Mei Mei, who was orphaned after her father passes away. She has no where to go and is alone until she is befriended by a village outcast named Po Po. I love the illustrations in this book because as the reader you can get a clear visual representation of the Chinese culture. As time goes on Mei Mei meets a slave that has escaped and followed her home, and they fall in love. I think this was a good book, but I don’t think I would read it to my future students unless we are discussing culture.… (mais)