THE JADE STONE
A Chinese Folktale
adapted by Caryn Yacowitz & illustrated by Ju-Hong Chen
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)