Turandot

I recently had the occasion to attend the Met in NYC for the first time.  I think I am becoming an opera lover!  (It all started when I watched this video of Dmitri Hvorostovsky and I was completely smitten!)

The opera we saw performed was "Turandot" and we also just so happen to have a beautifully illustrated book version of it.  The sets and costumes at the Met were spectacular.  The audience literally gasped during the second act when the scenery was revealed (apparently Franco Zeffirelli created this production).  The whole performance was gorgeous.  And of course the Nessun Dorma performed by Roberto Alagna gave me chills.  

Turandot

Marianna Mayer

illustrated by Winslow Pels 1995

The story is a Chinese folk tale about a beautiful princess, Turandot, who refuses to marry.  She sets up a series of riddles for any would be suitors that results in their death should they fail.  Soon the city is decorated with all the failed paramours' heads on pikes and the people are weary of all the death.  Only when a new young prince arrives determines not to fail is Turandot's icy heart finally melted by love.  

Interestingly, Marianna Mayer is the first wife of another author/illustrator that we love- Mercer Mayer.

Two of Everything

Two of Everything

Lily Toy Hong 1993

This was a cute Chinese fable.  (The illustrations started to grow on me).  A poor farmer and his wife discover a large copper pot that multiplies anything that is put into it.  There's the potential for disaster, but comedy ensues and it all ends up all right.  

Everone Knows What a Dragon Looks Like

Everyone Knows What a Dragon Looks Like

Jay Williams

illustrated by Mercer Mayer 1976

One of my favorite Mercer Mayer books. The city of Wu has been warned of a coming attack by the wild horseman of the north. The Mandarin lord decides to pray for help from the Great Cloud Dragon. But when the Cloud Dragon appears as a fat old man no one believes that he could be a dragon except for the small gatekeeper boy, Han. Because of him, the city is saved and he is rewarded. And best of all, now everyone knows what a Dragon looks like.

The Fourth Question

Charlotte's nursery class has been talking about Chinese New Year.  They made dragons with glue and glitter and Friday she came home with a lucky penny folded in a red envelope.

The Fourth Question

Rosalind C. Wang

illustrated by Ju-Hong Chen 1991 

Here's a fun Chinese tale about a young man named Yee-Lee who works hard to support himself and his mother but they are always poor. He decides to visit the Wise Man of Kun-lun mountain and get his advice. On his journey to the mountain he meets others who have questions of their own for the wise man. A mother wants to know why her beautiful daughter is mute, an old man wants to know why his orange tree doesn't bear fruit, and a dragon wants to know why he can't rise to heaven.

When Yee-Lee meets the wise man he is told he can only ask three questions. Sacrificing his own question, he gets the answers for the others. And in the end, a reward and happy ending for himself.