Books.org participates in affiliate programs including Bookshop.org and the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no additional cost to you.
Overview
In this fifth adventure in the Warlord's Series, Chuan and his friend Jing Jing, the puppet master's daughter, are watching the sunset at the palace gates when they see a cloud of dust on the horizon. It is an invading army.As the palace prepares to withstand the attack, Chuan continues making paper, while Jing Jing tries to think of a way to scare away the army. Together the two use a bamboo flute, handmade paper and ink, and a little ingenuity to save the palace from a fierce battle.
Children learn about creativity, folklore, and calculating area in a math lesson that's as fun as it is fascinating. Directions for making a kite follow the story.
Praise for The Warlord's Puzzle, recommended by the California Department of Education
"This handsome picture book will be useful for encouraging children to play around with geometry at home or in the classroom." --Booklist
Praise for The Warlord's Beads
"The vibrant and unusual illustrations of Chinese pagodas, traditional robes, and characters' faces enhance this clever story. Children will not be disappointed in this sequel to The Warlord's Puzzle." --New Favorites
Praise for The Warlord's Fish
"An interesting introduction to the Chinese use of both the magnet and the compass . . . Debon's stunning illustrations enhance the tale." --School Library Journal
Praise for The Warlord's Puppeteers
"The messages of friendship, cooperation, and creativity, as well as the math lesson, make this book a good choice for group sharing and individual enjoyment."
--School Library Journal Virginia Walton Pilegard has been an elementary-school teacher. She dreamed up the Warlord's Series to provide children with tales of adventure that illustrate mathematics concepts. Mrs. Pilegard studied elementary mathematics and completed a B.A. and an M.A. in education. She lives with her husband in the foothills of California's central Sierra Nevada Mountains below Yosemite National Park.
After working in cultural administrations in both Canada and France, Nicolas Debon lives as a freelance illustrator in Versailles, France. In addition to his illustrations for the Warlord's Series, he is also the author/illustrator of several other books, including a 2003 Canadian Governor General's Literary Award finalist.
Other Titles in the Warlord's Series:
The Warlord's Puzzle (BookSense '76 selection, 2000)
The Warlord's Beads (BookSense '76 selection, 2001)
The Warlord's Fish The Warlord's Puppeteers
When a hostile army attacks the warlord's palace in ancient China, Chuan and his friend, Jing Jing, find an ingenious way to scare them off using simple kites. Includes instructions for making a kite from a paper bag.
Synopsis
Chuan and his friends save the palace from attack.
All is calm in the warlord's palace, and the artist's apprentice Chuan sits with his friend Jing Jing, watching the sunset, when an invading army approaches. The palace gates are closed, but how will they keep them at bay? Jing Jing comes up with an ingenious solution, using Chuan's knowledge of calculating area as well as his handmade paper and ink to frighten the troops into leaving.
This is Virginia Walton Pilegard and Nicolas Debon's fifth book in the acclaimed Warlord's series.
School Library Journal
Gr 2-4-This is the fifth story about Chuan, a young artist's apprentice in ancient China. Here, he uses his paper-making talent and his knowledge of geometric measurement to help his friend Jing Jing build several kites, each with a bamboo flute tied to its head. When the children fly them, the noise made by the wind blowing through the flutes scares off an enemy army that is trying to take over the warlord's palace. An author's note provides historical background for the story. Debon's striking illustrations display his deftness with line and perspective. Using thickly applied color in harmonious muted shades of terra cotta, aquamarine, and golden yellow paint and/or oil pastel, he has fashioned detailed scenes and stylized characters that bring the tale to life. Unfortunately, there are no directions for re-creating Chuan and Jing Jing's kite, made from hand-measured paper, thin sticks, and string, to reinforce the geometry lesson. Included instead are somewhat unclear instructions for building a flimsy kite from a brown paper bag, a piece of crepe paper, and sewing thread. Still, the concept of using the hand as a measuring tool may intrigue today's youngsters, as will the idea that children could deceive an army of adults.-Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.