Books published by publisher Hyperion/Madison Press

Hundreds of years ago in China there lived a very demanding emperor whose greatest with was to see four magnificent towers built around his new capital city. He was so impatient to see the perfect design drawn to realize his dream that he threatened anyone who failed him with the loss of their life. The carpenter Kuai Xiang is ready to accept his grim fate when the perilous task finally falls to him. Only a very special cricket can change his luck for the better. In this charming retelling of a traditional Chinese folktale, Stefan Czernecki brings us a classic story of friendship, artistry, and magic. An avid student of Chinese culture and history, Stefan Czernecki has been an active participant in many of the festivals, art exhibits, and literary events of Calgary's Chinese-Canadian community. He is currently studying the Mandarin language and was chosen to participate in a Chinese-Canadian cultural exchange program. He was first introduced to this story by his friend Cimon Ching, who translated the original tale. Influenced by prevalent styles of Chinese painting, Stefan utilized a number of traditional techniques to create the intensely vibrant paintings that accompany this story. His previous books for Hyperion Press Limited include Zorah's Magic Carpet, as well as The Sleeping Bread, Pancho's Piñata, The Singing Snake, and The Hummingbird's Gift, which were coauthored by Timothy Rhodes.

From dust jacket flap: "There could scarcely be a book for children more timely than this tale of Yussuf, the brave and intellectual Ostrich who took so valiant a part in the North African campaign. Yussuf's intellectual power was apparent almost from birth, and he braved the scorn of his fellows by attending an Arab school."...This is the story of an Ostrich who joins the Allied Army in North Africa during WWII. He is captured by the Nazis and put to work walking the pet Dachshunds of the vain Nazi General. He escapes with the help of some kindhearted Dachshunds. Set against the North African campaign, this represents a way in which children of that era were taught about the evils of Nazism. A one-of-kind story rarely seen today. The author, Emery Kelen, was one of a famous team of international cartoonist at that time.