Books with author Ji-li Jiang

This beautifully illustrated Chinese children's book tells a traditional myth in both English and Chinese characters. Long ago in China, there was a little boy who lived a nomadic life with his family. Hunger and hardship followed them wherever they went. They tried to grow food once, but whenever the seeds were sown, winter came and all the seedlings became frozen.One day, while passing by the Yellow River, the boy's white horse suddenly got free of the reins and plunged into the river. After a while, the horse sprang out of the water with a drawing on its back.Everyone wondered what the drawing meant, but only the boy was clever enough to figure it out and explained to his family: "This drawing shows the cycle of the changing seasons. The horse wants to help us grow grains to make food. Why don't we do what is on this drawing and sow seeds in the spring, water them in the summer, and harvest in the autumn. In the winter, we need to let the earth rest."Following the farming method on the drawing, people had bountiful harvests year after year, providing enough grain for rice and dumplings. They were able to stay in one place to build homes.Other books in the Chinese Zodiac Series (as well as the year of that animal) include:Little Pigs and the Sweet Rice Cakes—2007 & 2019Magical Rooster—2005 & 2017Water Dragon—2012 & 2024Little Monkey King's Journey—2016 & 2028Snake Goddess Colors the World—2013 & 2025Sheep Beauty—2015 & 2027Bronze Dog—2006 & 2018 Little Rat and the Golden Seed—2008 & 2020

I have never doubted what I was told: "Heaven and earth are great, but greater still is the kindness of the Communist Part; father and mother are dear, but dearer still is Chairman Mao."In 1966 Ji-li Jian was 12 years old. And oustanding student and a leader of her class, she had everything: brains, ability, the admiration of her peers -- and a shining future in Chairman Mao's New China. But all that changed with the advent of the Cultural Revolution, when intelligence became a crime and a wealthy family background invited persecution or worse. For the next few years Ji-li and her family were humilated and reviled by their former friends, neighbors and colleagues and lived in constant terror of arrest. At last, with the detention of her father, Ji-li was faced with the most dreadful decision of her life: denounce him, or refuse to testify and sacrifice her future in her beloved Communist Party.Told with simplicity, innocence and grace, this unforgettable memoir gives a child's-eye view of a terrifying time in 20th-century history -- and of one family's indomitable courage under fire.

In America, every child knows the story of the three little pigs and the big, bad wolf, so they'll love reading about the pigs' Chinese counterparts. Told in a bilingual Chinese and English edition, this is the story of three little pigs whose appetites initially get the better of them. In a shared dream, they met an old man who tells them to deliver sweet rice cakes to him a week before New Year's Eve. The next morning, they see some sweet rice cakes on their kitchen table. The three little pigs completely forget the old man and eat every bit of them. When their mother comes home, she is very angry to discover all the cakes gone. Seeing their mother unhappy, the three little pigs help her make more delicious sweet rice cakes.When there is only a week left before Chinese New Year's Eve, their mother lays the sweet rice cakes in front of the portrait of the Kitchen God and prays for the peace for the family. On seeing the portrait, the three little pigs realize that the old man in their dreams is actually the Kitchen God! Other books in the Chinese Zodiac Series (as well as the year of that animal) include:Magical Rooster—2005 & 2017Water Dragon—2012 & 2024Little Monkey King's Journey—2016 & 2028Snake Goddess Colors the World—2013 & 2025Horse and the Mysterious Drawing—2014 & 2026Sheep Beauty—2015 & 2027Bronze Dog—2006 & 2018 Little Rat and the Golden Seed—2008 & 2020

This beautifully illustrated multicultural children's book tells the story of two young brothers and a magical dog in both English and Chinese. Once upon a time, at the foot of the mountains called Zhongnan in the Shaanxi Province of China, there were two brothers who lived alone and depended on each other. One day, the elder one dug out a bronze dog while tilling which made the brothers very happy, as they could sell it for money. But unexpectedly, the bronze dog suddenly got bigger and swallowed the elder brother. Having seen this, the younger one rushed to find a hammer, intending to smash the bronze dog to save his brother. In order not to be destroyed, the bronze dog promised to give the young boy three gifts which he wanted most. But he told the dog he would rather ask for nothing but his brother. The bronze dog was deeply moved by the love between the two brothers, so it spat the elder one out and magically turned into a real dog. Luckily, the brothers got a new companion, and all of them lived happily ever after.Other books in the Chinese Zodiac Series (as well as the year of that animal) include:Little Pigs and the Sweet Rice Cakes—2007 & 2019Magical Rooster—2005 & 2017Water Dragon—2012 & 2024Little Monkey King's Journey—2016 & 2028Snake Goddess Colors the World—2013 & 2025Horse and the Mysterious Drawing—2014 & 2026Sheep Beauty—2015 & 2027 Little Rat and the Golden Seed—2008 & 2020 Little Calf—2009 & 2021

Join one family's journey as they design and build an authentic Chinese garden in their backyard! Papa seems to have a grand plan for the backyard. Day by day, he transforms the little space—building walls, a pond, and a gazebo with his own two hands. Everyone's favorite addition to the new garden is the colorful carp. Each member of the family releases one into the fresh pond, hoping it will bring them good luck. This bilingual children's book tells a simple, but sweet story about a man, his dream, and his very happy family. Written in both English and Chinese, kids can follow along as a family brings all the world's great mountains and rivers to their own backyard. A fun way to learn about Chinese language and culture, A Journey in Our Family's Chinese Garden is sure to delight the entire family. Flip through the pages, which are full of Chinese ink painting illustrations and cutout designs, to enjoy the natural beauty of the completed garden.

This beautifully illustrated, bilingual Chinese and English children's book invites you to learn a store inspired by the rare Ming Dynasty cup that's admired as the "holy grail" of China's art world.Known as the Chicken Cup, it's vividly decorated with a rooster and a hen tending to her chicks. This story tells the tale of a grieving young prince who has recently lost his parents. His uncle who becomes the Emperor decides to send him to the frontier. Upset by the news, the price accidentally smashes his mother's favorite cup…While the young prince is away he learns to appreciate the fine art of porcelain while recreating his mother's favorite cup.Porcelain evolved in China over 1200 years ago, and this book explains how it's made and its importance in Chinese history. Written in English and Chinese, this beautiful story follows the young emperor's journey from being ousted from the palace to his time in a ceramics workshop and to his victorious return to the palace as emperor.Find our years later how the prince creates a beautiful and flawless Chicken Cup when he returns to become Emperor. After admiring a famous painting of A Hen and Her Chicks, he designs a small porcelain cup with a rooster representing his brave father, a hen symbolizing his kind mother, and chicks that signified the young prince. This Ming Dynasty piece was recently sold at auction for an unprecedented $36 million in 2014. The Chinese words for chicken and lucky sounds like Ji which is why the chicken motif is thought to be a symbol of good luck and prosperity.