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Dream-of-Jade : the Emperor's cat -
Lloyd Alexander ; illustrated by D. Brent Burkett.
Chicago : Cricket Books, 2005.
48 p. ; col. ill. ; 26 cm.
Annotations:
- "Sections of this book were first published in the October, November, and December 1976 issues (volume 4, numbers 2/4) of Cricket magazine."-- T.p. verso.
Follows the adventures of a Chinese cat who became the emperor's good friend and advisor.
Best Books:
- Kirkus Book Review Stars, August 15, 2005 ; United States
Reading Measurement Programs:
Accelerated Reader
Interest Level Middle Grade
Book Level 6.5
Accelerated Reader Points 1
Reviews:
- Julie Cummins (Booklist, Sep. 15, 2005 (Vol. 102, No. 2))
No one fabricates a better make-believe kingdom than Alexander, as this story about a clever cat proves. Known for her beautiful green eyes, Dream-of-Jade lives in the forbidden city of the Celestial Emperor Kwan-Yu, upon whose grand personage no one is permitted to gaze. But Dream-of-Jade is very, very curious, and she boldly enters the emperor's throne room. Her grave offense would have cost her her life had she not saved the emperor from a falling ceiling. Five chapters, three of which were previously published in Cricket magazine in 1976, delightfully elucidate the special bond that grows between the emperor and his anointed Imperial Cat. The fairy-tale-style narrative flourishes with wily wit, details of ancient Chinese court life, and sophisticated language levied with tongue-in-cheek titles and descriptions, e.g., "Department of Lighthearted But Not-Too-Frivolous Diversions," "Yawn of Profound Uninterest," and "Imperial Couch of Blissful Repose." Finely lined, stylish paintings on marbled yellow backgrounds convey the cultural mystique, invoking both richness and absurdity. This fancy feast of delicious satire begs to be read aloud. Category: Books for Middle Readers--Fiction. 2005, Cricket, $16.95. Gr. 3-5, younger for reading aloud.Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, August 15, 2005 (Vol. 73, No. 16))
A savvy, sassy little cat causes quite a stir when she defies Chinese custom and law to teach the Emperor how to be a wise and happy ruler in this gentle, satiric tale of friendship. Kwan-Yu, Celestial Emperor of China and Embodiment of the Nine Heavenly Virtues, lives in lonely seclusion behind the walls of the Forbidden City. Burdened by boredom and duties, Kwan-Yu is at the mercy of his unimaginative, obsequious advisors until Dream-of-Jade, a white cat with green eyes, saunters into the sacred Throne Room and dares to sit on the Emperor's throne. When Dream-of-Jade protects Kwan-Yu from a falling ceiling tile, he rewards her with the title of Imperial Cat and their friendship takes off. Motivated by common sense and her wish to see Kwan-Yu "become the best of all rulers," Dream-of-Jade cleverly wriggles her way around imperial tradition to make her wish come true. Full-color impressionistic illustrations lavishly capture court life in ancient China as well as Dream-of-Jade's feline essence. Absolutely first-class storytelling with a remarkable little heroine. 2005, Cricket, 48p, $16.95. Category: Fiction. Ages 7 to 10. Starred Review. © 2005 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved. Subjects:
- Cats Fiction.
Kings, queens, rulers, etc. Fiction.
Cats Juvenile fiction.
Emperors--China Juvenile fiction.
China--History Fiction.
China--History Juvenile fiction.
Children's stories.
| Language | Call Number | LCCN | Dewey Decimal | ISBN/ISSN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English (eng) | PZ7.A3774 Dt 2005 |
2004024068 |
[Fic] |
0812627369 9780812627367 |