
Reach for this book when your child is grieving the loss of a cherished possession or struggling to let go of something they loved. It is a perfect tool for navigating the 'small' heartbreaks of childhood that feel very big to a young person. The story follows Dong-Dong, a young boy whose new kite is destroyed. To comfort him, his grandfather shares a beautiful ancient Chinese legend about two lovers who used their creativity to outsmart a powerful emperor. This multigenerational tale illustrates how art and imagination can transform sadness into something beautiful and enduring. Parents will appreciate the way it validates a child's feelings of loss while gently pivoting toward resilience and the power of storytelling. The stunning ink-on-rice-paper illustrations provide a meditative backdrop for this lesson in emotional healing and cultural heritage.
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Sign in to write a reviewThe legend involves characters evading a greedy emperor and his guards.
The book deals with loss and historical tyranny. The loss of the kite is handled realistically, while the legend's conflict with the Emperor is metaphorical for overcoming oppression through wit. The resolution is hopeful and secular, focusing on human ingenuity.
A 6-year-old who is inconsolable because a favorite toy broke, or a 2nd grader interested in how things are invented and who enjoys hearing stories from their own grandparents.
The book is safe to read cold. Parents might want to briefly explain that the legend takes place a long time ago in China to help the child distinguish between the two timelines. A child crying or acting out because a 'treasure' (a toy, a drawing, a find from nature) was lost or destroyed, and the child refuses to be comforted by the promise of a replacement.
Younger children (5-6) will focus on Dong-Dong's sadness and the 'magic' of the kite flying. Older children (7-9) will appreciate the strategic cleverness of the characters in the legend and the sophisticated India ink art style.
Unlike many 'moving on' books that focus on finding a replacement, this book emphasizes the internal process of using imagination and history to heal. The traditional Chinese art techniques offer a rare, authentic aesthetic experience.
The book begins in contemporary China with Dong-Dong, who is devastated when his kite is caught in a tree and ruined. His grandfather sits him down to tell a 'story within a story' regarding the origin of kites. The legend features Ying-Ying and Ming-Ming, two people whose love is threatened by a tyrannical Emperor. They use the invention of the kite to communicate and eventually escape the Emperor's grasp. The story returns to the present day, where Dong-Dong feels inspired to create something new.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.