The Magic Brocade: A Tale of China

No brocades are more lovely or lifelike than the ones the widow weaves to sell at the marketplace. One day she returns home with a marvelous painting of a fairy palace, and her son Chen suggests that she weave the image as a brocade. Devoting all her loving skill, she creates the finest brocade of her life. But so fine it is that the fairies of the palace send a wind to carry it off for themselves.

Knowing his mother will die without her beloved creation, Chen starts out after it. But the way to the fairy palace lies over Fiery Mountain and across the Icy Sea. Even if he gets there, will the fairies give up the brocade?

This popular Chinese folktale will enchant young and old, as Chen and his mother find their way to a happiness beyond their dreams.

THIS BOOK IS AVAILABLE IN SEVERAL EDITIONS: ENGLISH ONLY, ENGLISH/SPANISH, ENGLISH/VIETNAMESE, AND ENGLISH/CHINESE (TRADITIONAL).

TEACHERS AND LIBRARIANS -- A READER'S THEATER SCRIPT OF THIS BOOK IS AVAILABLE FREE ON AARON'S WEB SITE.

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Aaron Shepard is the award-winning author of "The Baker's Dozen," "The Sea King's Daughter," "The Adventures of Mouse Deer," and many more children's books. His stories have appeared often in Cricket magazine, while his Web site is known internationally as a prime resource for folktales, storytelling, and reader's theater.

Xiajun Li, a native of Inner Mongolia, was an award-winning children's book illustrator and art director in China before moving to the United States.

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"A picture-perfect storybook fairytale of adventure, dangers, and surprises, showcased by the magnificent watercolor artistry of Xiaojun Li." -- Children's Bookwatch, April 2001

"Lyrical, romantic. . . . Exquisite watercolors beautifully complement the story." -- Katy Rydell, Stories, Spring 2001

"Aaron Shepard has done it again! That is, he has taken a classic tale and given it new life in a picture book that will please old and young alike. . . . There is much to like about this book: the story is a fine one; the language feels naturally conversational; the watercolor illustrations are a suitable complement to the tale. A surefire winner." -- The Story Bag, Dec. 2001-Jan. 2002

See above.