An IRA-CBC Children's Choice.An American Bookseller "Pick of the Lists."When Ping admits that he is the only child in China unable to grow a flower from the seeds distributed by the Emperor, he is rewarded for his honesty.
The importance of al-Ghazali in the intellectual and spiritual history of both the Western and Islamic world cannot be too highly estimated. He is considered to be the savior of Islam because in his 40-volume opus magnum, The Revival of the Religion Sciences , he clarifies the spiritual meanings and inner purposes of every aspect of the Islamic faith. This book, an illustrated biography for both parents and children—with adjacent text for both—presents this inspiring life with exquisite miniatures in the Persian style. The biography covers his humble birth and education, rise to fame, spiritual crisis, and subsequent journeying to find the Truth in Syria, Palestine, and Mecca before returning home, having purified his heart. The text is distilled from his own autobiography, Deliverance from Error , written in the 11th century CE and from other scholarly biographies.
A reward of one grain of rice doubles day by day into millions of grains of rice when a selfish raja is outwitted by a clever village girl.
Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) was one of the most remarkable and influential women of her time. Blessed with an astonishing array of talents, she was at once a mystic, theologian, scientist, doctor, nutritionist, composer, writer, linguist, and artist. Born to a noble family in Mainz, Germany, Hildegard entered a Benedictine monastery and went on to become abbess of a thriving community near Bingen. From a young age she received extraordinary 'lights' or visions of Heaven, which she described in a book called Know the Ways (of God). Hildegard's collection of imaginative music and poetry includes seventy-seven songs for the liturgical year and a morality play, making her the most prolific composer of early music in Europe. Her pioneering scientific work formed the basis for the study of natural history in Germany, while her holistic medical studies helped to provide cures for numerous diseases. Hildegard was also the author of a cookbook recommending nutritional 'foods of joy' and she even invented a new language! Such was Hildegard's fame and influence that bishops, popes, and kings, as well as humble peasants, sought out her wise counsel. Today, Hildegard of Bingen is recognized as a saint and doctor by the Catholic Church and is also revered by many Lutherans and other Protestants. Find out more about her life in this beautifully illustrated book by award-winning author, Demi.
Demi's storytelling skills bring Alexander the Great's exploits to life. Her splendid illustrations were painted with Chinese inks and gold overlays and with frames inspired by jewels from the tomb of Philip II of Macedonia at Verghina.
Life of a Genius paints a dynamic portrait of ancient China while providing a timeless moral example of a life guided by principles of humanity and virtue, influenced by tenets from Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. It artfully weaves the narrative of Su Dongpo's life in the eleventh century with passages of his original poetry and excerpts from the Taoist classic, The Tao Te Ching. Written and illustrated in exquisite detail by celebrated author and illustrator Demi, best-known for her award-winning multicultural stories and biographies.
Features polite pandas, cunning kitties, talkative turtles, and hasty hedgehogs. In ten illustrated tales, full of useful life lessons for young readers, you can see how panda learns the importance of sharing, how turtle discovers the danger of being proud, and how everyone, including tiny hummingbird, has their part to play in life.
Examines the customs, traditions, food, and lore associated with the celebration of Chinese New Year.
Joan of Arc was born into a simple family in a small French town in the fifteenth century. She had no idea that one day she would be remembered as a great military leader. As a young girl, Joan cared for the sick, gave money to the poor, and attended church services. She prayed daily that France would be delivered from the English and Burgundian invaders who were ravishing the country. When Joan was thirteen, she had a life-changing experience. The archangel Michael appeared in a vision and told her that she would save the kingdom of France and lead the dauphin (heir to the throne) to Reims Cathedral to be crowned king. Joan could not imagine how she, a peasant girl, could do these extraordinary things, but she also realized that she must follow God's will. Calling herself the Maid of God, she set off to gather an army, win a number of crucial battles, and install the dauphin on crucial battles, and install the dauphin on the French throne. Although the king later deserted her when France's enemies put her on trial for heresy and burned her at the stake, her bravery and faith inspired the French people and led them to victory
Hidden amongst the poor cowherds, Krishna uses his miraculous powers to fight an evil demon king who has overthrown the peaceful kingdom of Mathura.