The Legend of Lao Tzu and the Tao Te Ching - Hardcover

Lao Tzu; Demi

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1416912061 ISBN 13: 9781416912064

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry, 2007

Synopsis

THIS IS THE LEGEND OF LAO TZU,

who may or may not have been born; who may or may not have founded Taoism, on of the greatest religions in the world; and who may or may not have written one of the greatest books of wisdom in the world: the Tao Te Ching, or the "Way of Heaven."

This thoughtful and thought-provoking book opens with a biography of Lao Tzu, the mysterious philosopher who is said to have been born at the age of eighty-one with snow-white hair, the ability to walk and talk, and unparalleled wisdom. Many credit him with creating the Tao Te Ching, which was written for the good of all humankind. Twenty of the eighty-one passages of the Tao Te Ching are included here, paired with stunning illustrations by the award-winning artist Demi. On topics ranging from silence to moderation, from governing to the balance of earth and heaven, these passages carry a powerful message and are sure to give each and every reader something new to consider.

About this title

About the Author

Demi is the award-winning creator of numerous books for children, including The Empty Pot; Buddha; The Dalai Lama; The Legend of Saint Nicholas; Gandhi, which was named a New York Times Best Illustrated Book and received an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award; and Muhammad, which was named a Kirkus Reviews Editors’ Choice selection, a Booklist Editors’ Choice selection, one of the Booklist Top Ten Religion Books for Youth, and a Book Links “Lasting Connections” selection, and was cited in a Publishers Weekly starred review as a “timely, exceptionally handsome biography [that] serves as an excellent introduction to Islam.” Demi lives in Carnation, Washington.

Demi is the award-winning creator of numerous books for children, including The Empty Pot; Buddha; The Dalai Lama; The Legend of Saint Nicholas; Gandhi, which was named a New York Times Best Illustrated Book and received an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award; and Muhammad, which was named a Kirkus Reviews Editors’ Choice selection, a Booklist Editors’ Choice selection, one of the Booklist Top Ten Religion Books for Youth, and a Book Links “Lasting Connections” selection, and was cited in a Publishers Weekly starred review as a “timely, exceptionally handsome biography [that] serves as an excellent introduction to Islam.” Demi lives in Carnation, Washington.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5 Up–This is the legend of Lao Tzu, who may or may not have been born; who may or may not have founded Taoism, one of the greatest religions of the world.... Demi's elegant picture-book introduction to the legendary Chinese philosopher, often speculated to have been a contemporary of Confucius, combines nuggets of his purported life with 20 verses from the Tao Te Ching, which he may or may not have written. Allegedly born an old man, Lao Tzu became widely known for his wisdom, to the point of being courted by the emperor. Adult readers will enjoy his response to the emperor's messenger. I wash my ears because even one political word is dangerous. I wash my donkey's ears because donkeys are very political. The sketchy life story and the Tao teachings are vague, ambiguous, and mystical by turns. Demi provides no background explanation, acknowledgment of authority, or reference to other information sources. On the pretty pages, the text is set in gold letters, and the narrative and graceful paintings are contained in a gold circular frame on each parchment shaded page. The gold circles represent Tao, The Way of Heaven, according to the concluding double-page listing of Taoist symbols and their meanings. Adult fans of the artist are the most likely audience, but the book does introduce a significant, lesser-known spiritual leader to children.–Margaret Bush, Simmons College, Boston
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About this edition

• Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 1416912061
• ISBN 13: 9781416912064
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 48