The Story of Chopsticks: Amazing Chinese Inventions
About this ebook
The three playful and creative Kang brothers (Ting, Pan, and Kùai) discovered four of China's most famous discoveries in the series Amazing Chinese Inventions. In this adventure, the youngest boy Kùai never gets enough to eat. One day Kùai comes up with a plan: he is inspired to use sticks to grab food quickly while it's too hot for Ting and Pan. What will his family think?
When the Kang family attends a wedding banquet, Kai brings his chopsticks... to everyone's great surprise! When the whole village finds out, then what will the Emperor think? The story features an author’s note on the history of chopsticks and a delicious dessert recipe, ideal for eating with chopsticks.
This fanciful blend of fact and imagination brings Asian culture alive for young readers. Children will enjoy the bright and bold artwork, created in the traditional Chinese style of hand cut, colored paper. Parents will enjoy the ingenuity of the main characters who teach adults a thing or two about inventiveness.
Teachers and librarians like the storybook’s historical references and how it features a bilingual translation in simplified Chinese - ideal for language classes, programs, and schools.
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“Like the hues in a stained glass window, [the illustrations] look brilliant...this well-designed book will please children in the primary grades."
- ALA Booklist
"[A] modern pourquoi tale... rooted in Chinese culture and offers American readers an authentic glimpse of its traditions."
-School Library Journal
“Compestine’s charming tale deserves a place in the multicultural curriculum. Xuan’s richly colored traditional Chinese cut paper illustrations lend authenticity."
- Kirkus Reviews
About the author
Ying Chang Compestine is an authority on Asian cuisine and award-winning author of children's books. She is the author of children's picture books Boy Dumplings and the series Amazing Chinese Inventions: The Story of Chopsticks, Noodles, Paper, and Kites. She has been featured on TV, radio, and in The New York Times, Washington Post, and Huffington Post. She travels around the world, sharing with students her journey as a writer and how her life in China inspired her writing. Visit her at www.yingc.com.
YongSheng Xuan was educated at the renowned Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. Born in Shanghai, China, he worked as an art designer and professional artist. He illustrated the book series The Story of Chopsticks, Noodles, Kites, and Paper and contributed to the children's magazine Cricket. His family lives in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. See more at www.ysxuan.com.
