(3) 4-6 Using traditional legends, the limited historical facts available, and quotations from Confucius's own writing, Demi has created a readable picture-book biography that emphasizes the sage's philosophy and educational teachings--ideas that still live on twenty-five hundred years later. Demi's signature paint and ink illustrations--with their diminutive figures, intricate detail, and gold borders--are full of action. Bib.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Colleen Kong-Savage. An invented story posits the origin of a sixteenth-century Korean warship. Yi Sun-sin (a real person, who later became an admiral) notices his turtle's resiliency and enters his pet in the king's contest for a new battleship design. He wins, and a ship is built with a protective covering reminiscent of a turtle's shell. Textured collages capture emotion and evoke setting; an afterword provides more information. Bib.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Lin Wang. This lyrical adaptation of a popular Japanese folkloric theme is enhanced by original haiku, written in the voices of the crane girl, the boy who rescues her and later becomes a crane himself (in Manley's version), and the greedy father who opens the door against the girl's wishes as she weaves. Accomplished watercolors contain historical details of Japan. Comprehensive author's notes included.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) K-3 Illustrated by April Chu. From the erhu to the suona, this unique, boldly illustrated book introduces Chinese instruments. Children are pictured playing the instruments, while short, lyrical poems of varying styles pair with longer passages describing the instruments' uses, their histories, and other information. The book culminates in a final impressive spread depicting the children's orchestra performing in a grand concert hall.

Reviewer: Sian Gaetano

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jessica Lanan. Bojangi (specially crafted wrapping cloths) are an ancient Korean folk-art form. In this story, young Ji-su strives to sew well enough to join her mother as a seamstress at the emperor's court. Schoettler illuminates the originality and craftsmanship involved in creating bojangi, but her telling is ponderous; more compelling are the beautiful cloths in Lanan's warm illustrations.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(3) YA Treasures of China, History Stories series. Translated by Qian Jifang. These volumes retell stories of famous people from Chinese history. The tales, focusing on kings, generals, and courtly advisers, detail their courage, wisdom, and strength. Each story concludes with additional information about the era. Every page includes at least one piece of sumptuous art in a variety of styles; occasional double-page spreads heighten the historical dramas. Timeline. Review covers these Treasures of China, History Stories titles: Chinese History Stories: Stories from the Imperial Era and Chinese History Stories: Stories from the Zhou Dynasty.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) YA Treasures of China, History Stories series. Translated by Qian Jifang. These volumes retell stories of famous people from Chinese history. The tales, focusing on kings, generals, and courtly advisers, detail their courage, wisdom, and strength. Each story concludes with additional information about the era. Every page includes at least one piece of sumptuous art in a variety of styles; occasional double-page spreads heighten the historical dramas. Timeline. Review covers these Treasures of China, History Stories titles: Chinese History Stories: Stories from the Imperial Era and Chinese History Stories: Stories from the Zhou Dynasty.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Kristi Valiant. When her siblings are busy, Cora, the youngest, finally gets to help her mother prepare pancit, her favorite Filipino food. Cora even performs "the grown-up jobs like shredding the chicken," and she learns about her Filipino grandfather's cooking skills. Warm, realistic illustrations convey Cora's pride and tell a second story of a terrier eager to play with the too-busy young cook. Recipe included. Glos.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Stuart Loughridge. Ten-year-old Chersheng gets frustrated because his grandfather is forgetting more and more. Chersheng's mother brings out the story cloth her father made in a refugee camp, using it to remember Grandfather's past. The story, told in English and Hmong, is a helpful but somewhat heavy-handed introduction to both Hmong history and Alzheimer's disease.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Genna Panzarella. In this creation myth, a brother and sister from heaven compete to make the sky and the earth. Faam Koh's sky is too small to cover the earthly tapestry his sister has made. With her embroidery skills (for which the Mien are known), the sister gathers and pleats the earth, creating mountains and valleys, and making her tapestry fit the sky. The hard-to-read typeface is unfortunate. The illustrations become repetitive but are striking overall.

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(4) K-3 A crane and a clam, engrossed in their own locked combat, are scooped up by a passing fisherman for his dinner. This story, and five others adapted from Chinese proverbs, portray timeless truths and are presented here in both English and Chinese. Although the language is at times stilted, the accompanying cut-paper illustrations are striking and effective. Brief notes on the proverbs are appended.

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