Laoye’s Dancing Puppets [9780063217706]

Overview

From the author of Take Me to Laolao comes another touching story about a young Chinese girl who bonds with her grandfather as he creates pi ying—traditional Chinese shadow puppets.

School has ended, and Ying-Ying has big plans for the summer. But then her mom announces they will be going to China to visit her grandparents, and suddenly her summer plans are ruined.

As Ying-Ying wanders her grandparents' house, bored and alone, she quickly discovers that Laoye spends much of his time creating pi ying—traditional shadow puppets inspired by epic characters from Chinese folktales: Sun Wukong, the mighty Monkey King; Hua Mulan, fearless Warrior Maiden; and Chang’e, the immortal Moon Fairy. And Ying-Ying's grandfather puts on shows for the people in his town, complete with music, singing, and storytelling!

Ying-Ying wants to learn how to make them too, but can she master the art of shadow puppetry before the summer is over?

• Epic Chinese Folklore: Laoye’s puppets are some of the great figures from Chinese folklore—Sun Wukong, the Monkey King; Hua Mulan, the Warrior Maiden; and Chang’e, the Moon Fairy. Readers will love seeing these figures depicted and delight in learning their stories.
• Perfect for Crafting: Included in the back matter is a brief history of Chinese shadow puppetry, along with a guide to creating your own shadow puppet.
• Great for Grandparents’ Day: Ying-Ying doesn’t want to spend a summer with her grandparents—she wants to have fun with her friends at home! But, after seeing Laoye create shadow puppets, Ying-Ying becomes open to learning from her grandfather, and they end up having a wonderful and meaningful bonding experience.