Fu Finds The Way - Hardcover

Rocco, John

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1423109651 ISBN 13: 9781423109655

Publisher: Hyperion Book CH, 2009

Synopsis

When the warrior Chang challenges young Fu to a duel, Fu panics. His only hope is that the Master will train him, just as he’s trained all the young warriors of the village.  But instead of teaching Fu to fight, the Master teaches him…to pour tea. Fu learns purpose, flow and patience in the process, but will it be enough to defeat the mighty Chang?
 

With his signature breathtaking art, John Rocco has created a modern parable full of adventure, heart, humor, and a gentle message about the importance of focus and finding joy in simple tasks.

About this title

About the Author

John Rocco is the author and illustrator of Moonpowder and Wolf! Wolf! and the illustrator of Alice, by Whoopi Goldberg. He earned his degrees from RISD and The School of the Visual Arts and worked for several years in L.A on such projects as Shrek (as Pre-Production Art Director) and at the Disneyquest theme park. He was the winner of the SCBWI New York Showcase in 2004 and 2007, and the winner of the 2008 Borders Original Voices Award. This story was inspired by a visit to a shop in Hong Kong, where John spotted a beautiful teapot in the window. He had to have tea with the owner, an elderly Chinese woman, before he could buy the teapot. Her deft moments in serving the tea were mesmerizing. "She was not just making tea," John says, "She was making art." John lives with his wife (another children's book author-artist) and daughter in a loft in Brooklyn, NY.

Reviews

Grade 1–4—Some time in the past, in a country resembling China, Fu finds his imaginary adventures more compelling than planting rice in straight rows. When his father tells him to start over, the boy hurls a plant down the hillside where it lands on Chang, a passing soldier of some importance, who challenges the child to a duel. The frightened boy goes to the Master to learn to fight but becomes impatient when his mentor insists on beginning with tea. Throughout the night, the boy makes it over and over, learning to be patient. An author's note mentions the ancient Chinese tea ceremony called Gong Fu, a phrase indicating "any skill developed through great practice." The next morning the child trudges to the duel armed only with the proper tools for tea-making. Chang declines to fight, recognizing that the boy has the Way, an answer reflecting the Daoist philosophy embedded in the imaginative, but somewhat didactic, tale. The illustrations are varied, dramatic, and magical, although the palette is dark with a heavy use of browns and dull yellows. Rocco walks a fine line in his character depictions, particularly of the old man, a stereotypical caricature with thick glasses, a thin beard, and hands hidden in long sleeves. Though some of this story's elements will appeal to the younger children in the target audience, this well-written tale will be best received by older readers, who can appreciate its subtext.—Barbara Scotto, Children's Literature New England, Brookline, MA END

When young Fu inadvertently hits a warrior with a clump of mud, the warrior challenges him to a duel. Terrified, Fu grabs his father’s sword and seeks the advice of “the Master,” who has trained “all the great warriors.” Instead of sword fighting and martial arts, however, the Master instructs Fu in pouring tea, stressing the importance of purpose, patience, and flow. The duel is averted when the warrior is impressed by Fu’s exquisite tea ceremony. Masterful illustrations reveal lush landscapes, an august Master, and dreamy settings well suited for a solemn tea ceremony. Fu’s loyal pet duck, an expressive sidekick, adds a light touch to the formality and surreal images. Children anticipating Jackie Chan–like action may be disappointed, but older kids and adults will enjoy the artful irony and New Age message delivered in this elegant picture book. Grades 3-5. --Linda Perkins

Edition details

• Publisher: Hyperion Book CH
• Publication date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1423109651
• ISBN 13: 9781423109655
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Rocco John
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 40