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The Chinese Emperor's New Clothes
Ming Da is only nine years old when he becomes the emperor of China, and his three advisors take advantage of him by stealing his stores of rice, gold, and precious stones. But Ming Da has a plan. With the help of his tailors, he comes up with a clever idea to outsmart his devious advisors: He asks his tailors to make “magical” new clothes for him. Anyone who is honest, the young emperor explains, will see the clothes’ true splendor, but anyone who is dishonest will see only burlap sacks. The emperor dons a burlap sack, and the ministers can’t help but fall for his cunning trick. Click here for more details and classroom activities! |
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D is for Dragon Dance
From the dazzling dragon dance to the scrumptious steamed dumplings to the firecrackers that frighten away evil spirits, this alphabet book celebrates the traditions of the lunar new year. First published in 2006, this new rendition presents the English text alongside the Chinese. Click here for more details and classroom activities! |
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The Runaway Wok
When a boy goes to the market to buy food and comes home with an old wok instead, his parents wonder what they'll eat for dinner. But then the wok rolls out of the poor family's house with a skippity-hoppity-ho! and returns from the rich man's home with a feast in tow. Click here for more details and classroom activities! |
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Boy Dumplings: A Tasty Chinese Tale
Long ago in old Beijing, a hungry ghost finds a boy, who doesn't want to become a midnight snack! What wackiness ensues when the child tempts the ghost to make the tricky "Boy Dumplings" recipe. Click here for more details and classroom activities! |
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The Real Story of Stone Soup
A stingy fisherman always makes his three young helpers do all his work. One day he scolds the “lazy boys” for forgetting to provide lunch. “Don’t worry,” they say. “We can make stone soup.” The boys dig a hole and fill it with water and “flavored” stones. They trick the fisherman into making bowls and chopsticks, and fetching salt and sesame oil. While he’s busy, they stir in bird eggs, add wild vegetables, and slip fish into the soup. By the time the old man returns, they have a feast fit for a king. To this day, “Egg Drop Stone Soup” is a traditional dish in southeast China. A recipe is included. Click here for more details and classroom activities! |
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Crouching Tiger
Vinson is very excited when his grandfather comes from China for a visit. When Grandpa practices tai chi in the garden, Vinson asks to learn, hoping it will be like kung fu, full of kicks and punches. But tai chi’s meditative postures are slow and still, and Vinson quickly gets bored. He can’t understand why Grandpa insists on calling him by his Chinese name, Ming Da, or why he has to wear a traditional Chinese jacket to the Chinese New Year parade. As the parade assembles, however, he notices the great respect given to his grandfather and the lion dancers under his training. And when Vinson is offered a role in the parade, he realizes that being part Chinese can be pretty cool—and is ready to start learning from his grandpa’s martial-arts mastery in earnest. Click here for more details and classroom activities! |
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The Runaway Rice Cake
It's the Chinese New Year, and the Chang Family has only enough rice flour to make one nián-gão, a special New Year's rice cake, for the entire family to eat. But this delicious little nián-gão has other ideas. "Ai yo! I don't think so!" it cries, coming to life and escaping. Ming, Cong, little Da and their parents chase the nián-gão all over the village until it runs into a hungry, old woman and sends her tumbling to the ground. Though Da is a small boy, his heart is big enough to share the treat with her, even though that leaves Da's family with nothing to eat for their own celebration. But the Changs' generosity doesn't go unnoticed. When they return home, they find the Kitchen God has left a wonderful surprise for them. Click here for more details and classroom activities! |
Amazing Chinese Inventions
This series, recounting how the creative Kang brothers discovered four of China's famed inventions, is redesigned to feature new bilingual simplified Chinese translations.
ChopsticksWanting more to eat, Kùai is inspired to use sticks to grab food quickly while it's too hot for Ting and Pan. When his family attends a wedding banquet, Kùai brings his chopsticks... to everyone's great surprise
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KitesThe Kang brothers imagine making wings to fly and drive the birds from their rice fields! With paper, straw, and feathers, what else can they create?
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NoodlesThe village always expects Mama's famous dumplings to win the annual cooking contest. However, this year the Kang brothers play with the dough, and soon, long strips fly everywhere.
With no time left, the family can bring only the strings of boiled flour. Will the new dish wow the judges or will the three boys find themselves in hot water? |
PaperThe Kang boys don't want their teacher to write embarrassing notes on their hands anymore. Can they concoct a formula for what just may become a very useful school supply?
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