(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Becca Stadtlander. Contemporary artist Xu's own invented code, "Square Word Calligraphy," looks like Chinese calligraphy but is really composed of English letters. Seventeen folk-song refrains from the U.S. and China are written in this "secret code," ready for deciphering. American readers should recognize clues to songs such as "Skip to My Lou" in the elegant folk art–style paintings. Calligraphy how-to and answer key appended.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt