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Chinese Children's Bilingual Books

The Ballad of Mulan

Retold and illustrated by Song Nan Zhang, Pan Asian Publications, 1998.

An ancient tale full of the spirit, honor and bravery of Mulan -- China's legendary female warrior. With lavish illustrations portraying the rich culture of the Wei dynasty. Mulan will take you into the victorious battles where she takes the place of her ailing father and disguises herself as a male. Skillful and heroic, she becomes a famous general and the model for countless Chinese poems, essays, operas, and paintings. The book incorporates the Song dynasty poem into the illustrations.

  • Ages 4-12. HC, 32 pages
  • Hard Cover
  • 32 pages
  • ISBN 1-57227-056-X
  • Chinese/English, Hmong/English, Vietnamese/English: $16.95 [Asia For Kids]
  • Buy at Powell's
China's Bravest Girl: The Legend of Hua Mu Lan

Told by Charlie Chin, illustrated by Tomie Arai, Children's Book Press, 1993.

A contemporary Chinese American poet and storyteller recounts the legend of Hua Mu Lan, who goes to war disguised as a man and becomes a great general. In this bilingual adaptation of the famous fifth century Chinese legend of the woman warrior, poet Charlie Chin shows us a heroine who is courageous and wise, respectful and loving, and able to meet men on equal terms.

  • Ages 6+
  • 32 pages
  • ISBN: 0-89239-120-0 (Hard Cover)
  • Chinese/English: $14.95 (Hard Cover) (UWA) (CBP)
  • Chinese/English: $6.95 (Paperback) (UWA) (CBP)
  • Buy at Powell's
Dance Mice, Dance!

By Kuang-ts'ai Hao, Grimm Press/Pan Asian Publications, 1994.

This retold version of 'The Pied Piper of Hamlin' is an entertaining and meaningful story about a magical flute player who is too easily affected by praise. He becomes proud, overconfident, and lazy. Although the townspeople desert him, little mice befriend him. And through these mice, the flute player eventually appreciates the value of his talent, and learns the importance of friendship.

The Dragon Lover and Other Chinese Proverbs

By Yong-Sheng Xuan, Shen's Books, CA., 1999.

Inspired by the centuries-old paper-cut technique, five proverbs are strikingly illustrated with intricate details and fitting styles. Each carries a message that is universal and timeless, especially for the children of today. Readers are not only brought into a world of intriguing Chinese folktales, but are immersed in the traditional wisdom embedded in each story. Written bilingually, the text clearly conveys the essence of five important values in the following stories: 'The Lazy Farmer', 'The Musician and the Water Buffalo', 'The Crane and the Clam', 'An Old Horse', and 'The Dragon Lover'.

  • Ages 6-10
  • 30 pages
  • hard cover
  • ISBN 1885008112
  • Chinese/English (SHEN)
  • Buy at Powell's
Dragon's Tears

By Manju Gregory, Illustrated by Gua Le, Mantra Lingua Ltd,

How did the twenty-four lakes of the River Min get their name The Dragon's Tears? When Chun Li releases a golden fish, he is rewarded with the gift of a magic pearl. But this is when his troubles begin ... A classic Chinese tale about luck, magic, greed, tragedy and reconciliation, it has much scope for discussion.

The Emperor and the Nightingale

Retold by Hao Kuang-ts'ai, Grimm Press/Pan Asian Publications, 1994.

Will the emperor give up his favorite horse? His kingdom? What price will he pay for immortality? The answer to this question is answered in this haunting and beautiful story about an emperor's decision to ultimately put what he loves before his own life.

  • 32 pages
  • hard cover
  • Chinese/English: $16.95 (UWA), Hmong/English: $16.95 [Pan Asian Publications] ISBN 1572270268
  • Khmer/English: $16.95 (UWA) ISBN 1572270233
  • Lao/English: $16.95 (UWA)
  • Tagalog/English: $16.95 (UWA)
  • Buy at Powell's
The Giant and the Spring

By Kuang-ts'ai Hao, Pan Asian Publications, 1994.

What happens when a lonely Giant captures Spring and won't let it go? In this thoughtful tale, the themes of selfishness and sharing are explored as the Giant comes to realize his selfishness. His release of Spring at the end of the story is sure to touch every young reader.

Lao Lao of Dragon Mountain

By Margaret Bateson-Hill , Illustrated by Francesca Pelizzoli, Zero to Ten Limited

A greedy emperor demands an impossible task from Lao Lao, a peasant woman who makes beautiful shapes from paper. Includes instructions for making traditional Chinese paper-cuts.

Lady White Snake: A Tale from Chinese Opera

By Aaron Shepard, illustrated by Song Nan Zhag, Pan Asian Publications, 2001.

What fate awaits a thousand-year-old white snake that travels from its sacred mountain to the human world, only to fall in love with a mortal? Such is the unusual beginning of this tragic love story, one of the most popular in all of Chinese opera.

The Magic Brocade

Retold by Aaron Shepard, Illustrated by Xiaojun Li, Pan Asian/Edustar, 2000.

One day Chen's mother the widow weaves a brocade so fine that the fairies of the palace send a wind to carry it off for themselves. Knowing his mother will die without her beloved creation, Chen starts out after it over Fiery Mountain and across Icy Sea. This popular Chinese folktale will enchant young and old, as Chen and his mother find their way to happiness beyond their dreams.

The Making of the Monkey King

Retold by Robert Kraus and Debby Chen, Pan Asian Publications

In this first book of The Adventures of Monkey King series, our hero is born from a rock, and crowned Monkey King by his fellow monkeys after finding a sanctuary for them. Anxious to make the enjoyment of his life and his rule last forever, the Monkey King sets off on a journey to find the secret of immortality. The Monkey King is a beloved creature among the Chinese, and the bilingual formal of this book will fascinate children everywhere.

Mei Ling's Hiccups

By David Mills, Illustrated by Derek Brazell, Mantra Publishing

Mei Ling's hiccups just will not stop. Everyone in her class gives advice on ways to get rid of them, but her hiccups just keep coming back.

Monkey King Wreaks Havoc in Heaven

By Robert Kraus and Debby Chen, Pan Asian Publications, 2001.

This second book in the Monkey King series tells of Monkey's adventures in Heaven. The irrepressible Monkey is a hit with children because of his mischievous nature and his magic powers.

The Mouse Bride

By Monica Chang, Yuan-Liou Publishing Company, Ltd./Pan Asian Publications

Winner of the 1992 Catalonia International Illustrator Award. 'Are you the strongest being in the world?' the old mouse leader asked the Sun, Cloud, Wind, and Wall. The mouse leader is searching for the mightiest husband for his daughter, someone strong enough to protect her and the village from the cat. The husband he eventually chooses provides the perfect ending to this ancient Chinese folktale.

Rainbow Fish

By Marcus Pfister. North-South Books, 1992, 2000.

The Rainbow Fish is the most beautiful fish in the entire ocean but after he is rude to a little blue fish one day, all of the other fish ignored him. He gives away all of his beautiful scales and discovers the value of personal beauty and friendship.

Seven Magic Brothers

By Kuang-ts'ai Hao, Pan Asian Publications, 1994.

An evil Emperor plots to destroy seven magical brothers. Although he puts each one of them through separate trials, the unity of the brothers gives them the strength to triumph. Rich in detail and color, children are sure to be astounded by these dynamic and exciting illustrations!

Simon and His Boxes

By Gilles Tibo, Pan Asian Publications, 1992.

When Simon finds some cardboard boxes in the forest, he builds homes for the animals. But every time he invites them to live in the board houses, they run away, Simon finally learns the animals prefer the homes they already have because of their better uses. Simon and his boxes won one of Canada's highest literary honor, the Governor General's Award for Illustration in 1992.

The Story of the Chinese Zodiac

By Monica Chang, Illustrated Arthur Lee, Yuan-Liou Publishing Co, Ltd.

Your student will delight in learning how the animals of the Chinese zodiac were chosen, and why the rat was the first one on the list. These questions and others are in this humorous version of the legend. Colorful, paper cut-out illustrations accompany the story and leap from the pages.

Tigers, Frogs & Rice Cakes: A book of Koren Proverbs

Collected by Daniel D. Holt, written by Soma Han Sticler, Shen's Publications, 1999.

Twenty proverbs lead the reader into many of the alluring and unique facets of Korean culture. Known as Sok-dam, or 'folk-sayings,' each proverb depicts a belief system or symbol representative of the Korean people, where character and cooperation are highly revered.

Woodcutter and Tiger Brother

By Nami Rhee, Hollym International Corporation / Design House Inc., 1988.

A woodcutter outwits a horrible tiger by making him believe that he is the woodcutter's older brother who used to be a human. The story Woodcutter and Tiger Brother shows us the spirit of Korean people filled with courage and wit. It also tells us that 'filial piety', or faithfulness to one's parents, is the prime virtue of Korean people in which human beings and even a tiger believed in their spirits.

  • Ages 4-9
  • 30 pages
  • hard cover
  • Chinese/English: $16.95 (UWA), $14.95 (HM), ISBN 1-56591-093-1
  • Buy at Powell's

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