Synopsis
When the Great Emperor of All China commands him to carve a Dragon of Wind and Fire in a piece of perfect jade, Chan Lo discovers the stone wants to be something else
Reviews
Kindergarten-Grade 3-- ``A dragon of wind and fire'' is what the Great Emperor of All China commands of the humble stone carver Chan Lo, as he gives him a perfect piece of jade. But Chan Lo can carve only what he hears in the stone. ``Pah-tah'' comes from deep inside. Next, ``bub-bubb-bubble.'' A third time, ``s-s-s-ah.'' Knowing that he has not heard dragon noises, Chan Lo works for a year and a day before setting off with his creation--three carp. No punishment is harsh enough for someone who has so defied the emperor, who says, ``I will let my dreams decide.'' In these dreams he sees the sources of Chan Lo's inspiration, and so rewards him with the title of Master Carver. With its rhythm and sounds, this adaptation of a Chinese folktale begs to be read aloud. Visually it advances like the unrolling of an Oriental scroll: watercolor-and-ink drawings on stone-colored handmade rice paper, made narrow by white top and bottom margins. Chen's device of outlining his drawings with a taupe band adds a sense of depth and makes them visible for group sharing. A very satisfying tale, whether read aloud or pored over alone to pick up the whimsical humor of the illustrations. --Diane S. Marton, Arlington County Library, VA
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
This solid retelling of a traditional Chinese folktale concerns artistic integrity. A stone carver can't carve the dragon out of the "perfect piece of green and white jade stone," as the Great Emperor of All China has commanded, because a dragon is not what the stone innately "wants" to be. The entire kingdom is in an uproar, and still the craftsman insists on following his creative instincts--to his death, if necessary. Though this moral tale has a timeless--and somewhat timely--quality, its visual presentation is weak. Chen's authentic drawings, while subtle, lack dramatic power; the overall design of the book is bland and does not set off the illustrations; and the interior typeface does not complement the art. The story will read aloud well, and perhaps children will not notice the lack of artistry in the book's overall appearance. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
When the Emperor of China is given a perfect piece of jade, he orders master carver Chan Lo to form from it ``a dragon of wind and fire.'' But Chan Lo can carve only what he hears in the stone, and the gentle, playful sounds emanating from this noble piece speak of a graceful trio of carp. The outraged Emperor vows to let his dreams determine Chan Lo's punishment. Fortunately, he too dreams the soft, lazy sounds that inspired Chan Lo's masterpiece, whose beauty now overcomes the Emperor's anger. A wonderful read-aloud, with great sound effects, a thrice- repeated incantation, and the dramatic voices of the Emperor and his babbling advisors. Each figure in Chen's soft, smudgy watercolors floats within a dark nimbus and is accompanied by a rectangular cartouche containing Chinese characters. A tale about artistic integrity, told with such artful simplicity that it'll be easily accessible to young children. (Folklore/Picture book. 5-9) -- Copyright ©1992, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
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