USBORNE ILLUSTRATED STORIES FROM CHINA

USBORNE'S ILLUSTRATED STORIES FROM CHINA Retold by Rosie Dickins and ANDREW Prentice. Illustrated by Li Weiding

I have often talked about how in my upper elementary years I really loved to read tales from other countries. There was a series that our local library had, and I often would have one of the books in my pile to take home. I loved getting a taste of other cultures this way. Understanding how that culture lived, what they valued, a bit of family relationships, what they ate, experiencing their folktales, being exposed to geographical elements from the land are all pieces that show up in these stories. Illustrated Tales From China is no different.

This particular edition features 13 stories from all over China. The introduction in the book explains that these stories were told sometimes with the purpose of entertainment, sometimes to teach a lesson or impart a bit of wisdom, sometimes to honor a Chinese holiday, etc. Each story is paired with beautiful illustrations created by Li Weiding who was a well known Chinese artist and professor. They are rich in color done in the traditional Chinese watercolor style. Overall, this is a great edition.

HEADS UP- As would be expected, there is magic in some of the stories. There are also references to religious aspects/beliefs of the Chinese people. One story in particular, The Monkey King, mentions some interactions with demons.