WELCOME TO AUSTRALIAN USED HOMESCHOOL BOOKS!
CULTURAL FICTION - CHINA
The Tale Of The Mandarin Ducks (Katherine Paterson) $7 HBDJ EC A beautiful mandarin duck is captured and caged by a greedy lord who wants to show off the bird's magnificent plumage. But the wild creature pines for his mate. When Yasuko, the kitchen maid, releases the bird against her lord's command, she and Shozo, a one-eyed samurai who is unjustly forced to be a servant, are sentenced to death. The grateful bird intends to return their kindness, but can he outsmart the cruel lord?. This retelling of a beautiful Japanese folktale is rich with compassion and love and the brilliant watercolour and pastel paintings in the style of eighteenth-century Japanese woodcuts illuminate this exquisite book. 5-9 YO http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/p/katherine-paterson/tale-of-mandarin-ducks-picture-puffins.htm
The Hunter: A Chinese Folktale (Mary Casanova) $6 HBDJ EC (Ex lib) In this retelling of a Chinese folk tale, a hunter receives a wonderful gift that ultimately costs him his life. ... this multilayered tale will leave readers moved and thoughtful. The tale of his sacrifice is well told in measured, poetic prose, unified by repeating word patterns. Young's spare calligraphic illustrations, ink against a muted golden-brown background recall old silk. 6-10 YO. http://www.marycasanova.com/pages/books/bk_hunter.html
The Dragon Liked Smoked Fish (Jerzy Laskowski) $6 HBDJ GC Ming and Ting decided to seek help from the Dragon who lived on the Blue Mountain. It was New Year's Eve, and time for gift-giving, and perhaps the Dragon might be in a generous mood! A wonderful story with beautiful early Chinese artwork. 5-9 YO http://cgi.ebay.com/THE-DRAGON-LIKED-SMOKED-FISH-Jerzy-Laskowski-1967-1st_W0QQitemZ290239519516QQihZ019QQcategoryZ279QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262
No Such Thing As Far Away (Laura Langston) $6 HBDJ EC Michael is sorry when his mother tells him they are moving away from their home on the edge of Chinatown, until his friend Grandpa Doc, the herbalist, tells him that no place is far away if one carries it in one's memory. 5-10 YO http://www.alibris.com/search/books/qwork/4702349/used/No%20Such%20Thing%20as%20Far%20Away
Little Ho And The Golden Kites (Mavis Scott) $5 PB EC During the Festival of the Golden Kites, Little Ho travels to the Palace Gardens to watch the noblemen fly their magnificent kites. In this original fairy tale about courage and spontaneity, the young boy's love of life wins him a surprising new friend. 4-9 YO http://www.holisticpage.com.au/ChatterboxFluentStage:LittleHoAndTheGoldenKites(4-pack)_MavisScott%7C9780733939914 (Cover different)
Dragon Mountain (Tim Vyner) $5 PB EC A mysterious story about the wildlife and myths of China. A boy is fascinated by stories about an old man who lived on top of a mountain and kept a dragon. His thirst for knowledge is so great that he climbs up the mountain to see the dragon for himself and to confront his fear of the unknown. 5-9 YO http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dragon-Mountain-Tim-Vyner/dp/0006645852 http://www.timvyner.com/illustration/otherbooks.html
The Moon Lady (Amy Tan) $5 PB GC A grandmother regales her three granddaughters on a rainy afternoon with a tale from her childhood. On the evening of the Moon Festival, she is separated from her family, and goes through several fascinating and scary adventures until she is finally reunited with them. The illustrations are an integral part of the book and can best be described as Chinese baroque. They are extremely detailed, providing both accurate cultural detail of the period (the tale is set somewhere in the two decades after the fall of the Qing Dynasty, i.e., the 1920s or '30s) and a child's romantic imaginings. Primary colours reign in the 12 sumptuous full-page pictures, as well as in the smaller vignettes that pepper and punctuate the narrative. A successful collaboration of compelling text and absorbing illustrations that will make young readers crave more. 6-10 YO http://www.childbook.com/The-Moon-Lady-by-Amy-Tan-p/e0263.htm
Wan-Hu Is In The Stars (Jennifer Armstrong) $6 HBDJ EC (Minor edge bumping to dust jacket) Just as she did in her acclaimed Chin Yu Min and the Ginger Cat, Armstrong uses simple, elegant prose to conjure up the mystical beauty of Chinese folklore. Wan Hu, the hero of this original tale, suffers from classic poet's distraction, endlessly musing about the stars, unaware that he is wearing only one shoe or sporting a rice pot instead of a hat. While the rest of the villagers scoff at the poet's "foolish dreams," the kindly gardener listens to Wan Hu's ambitions of travelling to the heavens to be among the stars. First Wan Hu climbs the highest mountain, then he harnesses a flock of geese so that they might lift him up into the sky. Finally, inspired by a fireworks display, Wan Hu builds himself a contraption that catapults him into the air and out of sight. The gorgeous illustrations perfectly complement the gentle buoyancy of the narrative. Muted purples, oranges and greens capture the charm of the Chinese landscape. Recommended! 5-9 YO http://www.alibris.com/search/books/qwork/7115843/used/WAN%20Hu%20is%20in%20the%20Stars
Chi Ming And The Lion Dance (Josephine Marquand) $6 HB FC (Older treasure with cover wear. Pages clean and sound) OUT OF PRINT A story set in China about Chi Ming and how his family are trying to save the money needed to send him to school. Wonderfully vivid and accurate scenes from a bustling city and its marketplace. Recommended! 6-10 YO http://www.scrattledbooks.com.au/?page=shop/flypage&product_id=148503&keyword=josephine+marquand&searchby=author&offset=0&fs=1&CLSN_1800=12137576131800d90a41a9781e3fa37a
The Legend Of The Kite: A Story Of China (Chen Jiang Hong) $6 HB EC (Ex lib) Every spring the Festival of the Kite is celebrated in China. When a boy's kite flies away from him, his grandfather tells him why the Chinese build kites, encouraging the boy to build a new, more beautiful one. 5-10 YO http://www.alibris.com/search/books/qwork/3840808/used/Legend%20of%20the%20Kite:%20A%20Story%20of%20China
The Mouse Bride: A Chinese Folktale (Co Dau Chuot) $6 HBVGC (Ex lib) This is the Chinese tale went on to the international market and won an award for the excellent art work. Beautiful Chinese style art work. 5-9 YO http://www.amazon.com/Mouse-Bride-Co-Dau-Chuot/dp/9573221519
Doctor Me Di Cin (Roberto Piumini) $5 HBDJ VGC When Prince Ma La Di is ailing, his father summons Doctor Me Di Cin. The doctor prescribes a healthy dose of fresh air, but the prince refuses to leave the palace. Doctor Me Di Cin promises to find an herbal cure. Each day, he returns to the palace empty-handed but full of tantalizing news of all that he has seen. The prince is so intrigued by the reports that curiosity soon gets the best of him and outside he goes. Piet Grobler's watercolours include whimsical plants and birds drawn from Chinese folklore. 5-9 YO http://www.amazon.com/Doctor-Me-Cin-Roberto-Piumini/dp/1886910677
The Emperor And The Kite (Jane Yolen) $5 PB VGC (Name stamp on inturn) Largely ignored by her own family, Princess Djeow Seow spends her days playing with a kite made from paper and sticks. But when the Emperor is imprisoned in a high tower, only the Princess can save the day, flying her kite high up into the sky to rescue her father. Beautiful language and imagery are finely meshed in this tale of loyalty and love in a lovely picture book. 6+ CALDECOTT HONOR AWARD 5-10 YO http://www.amazon.com/Emperor-Kite-Jane-Yolen/dp/0399214992
Bawshou Rescues The Sun (Chun-Chun Yeh & Allan Baillie) $4 PB VGC, $5 HB VGC (Some spots on endpapers) A lovely picture book showing China and her culture through the story of the wild wind plucking the sun from the sky, like an orange from a tree. The day became as dark as night – as cold as ice. And the rice plants began to wither. Now Bawshou sets out to rescue the sun. Suit 5-10 YO. http://myresearchspace.grs.uwa.edu.au/photos/andrewrates_gallery/picture2939.aspx
Duty Free (Hazel Edwards) $4 PB EC Fast paced, funny mystery set on a tour of China where Sam's Mum is the scientific tour guide. Ethical dilemma of whether a parent should ask a 14 year old to be involved politically and to smuggle ideas through customs. 10+ http://www.hazeledwards.com/books/yafiction/dutyfree.htm
Favourite Stories “Hong Kong” (Leon Comber) $2 PB GC A collection of short stories and historical articles about the way of life in China and Hong Kong. Nice pictures, clear text, very interesting. 8-12 YO.
Shen Of The Sea – Chinese Stories For Children (Arthur Bowie Chrisman) $5 PB GC A series of fascinating Chinese stories, strong in humor and rich in Chinese wisdom, in which the author has caught admirably the spirit of Chinese life and thought. Enter the world of dragons and other mythical creatures in this delightful collection of Chinese folk tales. Light hearted retellings of ancient myths and legends will have both young and old laughing aloud, even as they discover Chinese wisdom and culture. 8+ …WINNER OF THE NEWBERY MEDAL http://www.amazon.com/Shen-Sea-Chinese-Stories-Children/dp/0525392440 (Cover different)