278 pages
"In the valley of Fruitless Mountain, a young girl named Minli spends her days working hard in the fields and her nights listening to her father spin fantastic tales about the Jade Dragon and the Old Man of the Moon. Minli's mother, tired of their poor life, chides him for filling her head with nonsense. But Minli believes these enchanting stories and embarks on an extraordinary journey to find the Old Man of the Moon and ask him how her family can change their fortune. She encounters an assorted cast of characters and magical creatures along the way, including a dragon who accompanies her on her quest." -Dust Jacket
This was a delightful book from beginning to end. I love stand-alone books (i.e. no sequels) that make you smile and feel good. This book is different from the other fantasies we've read in that it's mixed with Chinese folklore, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The full-color illustrations were a lovely bonus.
I know I've picked a good book when my kids ask me to read more and don't want it to end. My 8- and 10-year-old did just that with this book. My 12-year-old apparently thinks she's too old to be read to every night (I'm sad about that), but she put this book on hold at the library and has enjoyed reading it too. Not only was it a great story, but it also has a great moral at the end: be thankful. I loved the way Minli's mom and Minli learn this lesson in the end. There were so many "coincidences" in this story that made everything work out just how it was supposed to. I loved how the author brought everything together at the end. I highly recommend this. I'm sure we'll re-read it.
No comments:
Post a Comment