In a Chinese village, Bamboo, a simple farmer, falls in love with a peasant girl, Ming, and soon they are married. To celebrate the wedding, the newlyweds plant a grove of bamboo. When Bamboo goes to the New World to seek his fortune, his new wife is left behind to till the fields. Ming soon discovers that the bamboo she brought as a gift to her new husband is magic.
Paul Yee�is one of Canada's finest writers for children. He was raised in Vancouver and now lives in Toronto. He won the Governor General's Literary Award for Children's Literature for Ghost Train.
Magic and trickery flourish in this folktale set in rural China. Bamboo, a young Chinese farmer, weds Ming, the woman of his dreams. Together they plant bamboo seedlings, which produce a luxuriant bamboo grove. When Bamboo leaves for the New World to seek his fortune, Ming is left behind to deal with the cunning and conniving behaviour of her brother and sister-in-law. Ming is able to benefit from the mysterious powers of the bamboo until her brother-in-law discards them in the river. Her husband writes of his impending return but months later Ming receives notification that he is lost at sea. Through good fortune the two are re-united and grant forgiveness to the family. Paul Yee is a recipient of the Governor General’s Award and author of numerous children’s books.
Source: The Association of Book Publishers of BC. BC Books for BC Schools. 2006.
In this poetic story, two Chinese newlyweds plant a grove of bamboo. When a nasty relative makes their life miserable, a mysterious force brings help and sustenance.
Source: The Canadian Children’s Book Centre. Canadian Children’s Book News. 2007.