Ed Young

Monkey bursts into the world full of energy, cleverness, and ambition. He learns powerful magic, masters impossible tricks, and races through the heavens with the confidence of someone who thinks no one can stop him. This picture-book adaptation introduces the legendary Monkey King from the Chinese epic Journey to the West. Young readers will meet a hero who is dazzling, funny, bold, and often too proud for his own good. His adventures bring together magic, battles, trickery, and the beginning of a much larger journey toward wisdom. Ed Young's lively collage art matches Monkey's acrobatic spirit, making this a vivid choice for readers who enjoy mythic heroes, high-energy adventure, and classic stories from Chinese tradition.

Mountains rise, rivers move, villages appear, and Chinese characters become part of the landscape. Beyond the Great Mountains is a poetic journey through China, shaped by spare language and layered paper-collage art. Rather than giving readers a list of facts, Ed Young creates a quiet visual experience that helps you feel the grace and scale of the land. Each page draws attention to form, space, and meaning, connecting images of China with the written characters that help describe it. This contemplative nonfiction picture book is a strong choice for readers interested in art, culture, geography, and language. It invites children and older readers alike to slow down, look closely, and discover how words and pictures can deepen one another.

Doko is a basket, but he is also a witness. Carried through the lives of one family, he holds more than objects. He carries work, memory, responsibility, and the changing bonds between generations. Told from the basket's point of view, I, Doko gives young readers a fresh way to think about family and respect. The story moves with the simplicity of a fable, showing how the way people treat one another can echo from parents to children and beyond. Ed Young's elegant storytelling and artwork turn an everyday object into the center of a thoughtful picture book. This is a meaningful choice for readers who like quiet fables, family stories, and books that invite reflection after the final page.

Wei Gu meets an old man from the spirit world who knows something impossible: the person Wei Gu is destined to marry. A red thread, unseen by ordinary eyes, connects two lives before they understand what that connection will mean. Red Thread draws on a Chinese legend about fate, love, and the mysterious ties between people. The story has a quiet, magical feeling, inviting readers to wonder how much of life is chosen and how much is waiting to be discovered. Ed Young's picture-book retelling is best for children who enjoy folktales with a thoughtful mood rather than fast action. It offers a gentle introduction to a traditional idea about destiny while leaving space for curiosity and reflection.

The Jade Emperor has called the animals to race, and the results will decide their places in the Chinese zodiac. Cat and Rat set out together, but speed is not the only thing that matters when cleverness, trust, and competition enter the race. Cat and Rat retells the lively origin story behind the zodiac animals, giving young readers a story full of movement, rivalry, and animal personalities. As each creature strives for a place, the tale reveals why the order of the zodiac matters in Chinese tradition. With bold illustrations and a brisk folktale rhythm, this picture book is a strong fit for readers who enjoy animal stories, cultural legends, and tales where quick thinking can change everything.

Something strange is standing by the pond, and seven blind mice are determined to find out what it is. One by one, they investigate, but each mouse touches only one part and returns with a different answer. Seven Blind Mice retells a classic fable with bright, elegant artwork and a playful structure that young readers can follow with delight. Colors, numbers, and days of the week appear naturally as the mice make their discoveries, while the larger story points toward the value of looking carefully and considering the whole picture. This Caldecott Honor picture book is a smart, memorable choice for children who enjoy animal fables, simple mysteries, and stories that make them think as well as smile.

A roof can become a roller rink. An empty swimming pool can become a place for wheels and laughter. In the house Baba built, Ed Young's childhood in Shanghai is filled with invention, family, and the comforting feeling of being safe inside strong walls. Outside those walls, China is at war. Inside, the house changes with the needs of the people who live there, welcoming siblings, relatives, friends, and strangers who become part of daily life. Young readers will see how imagination and love can make a home feel large enough to hold both fear and joy. This illustrated memoir offers a tender look at family, childhood, and resilience, told through the memories of one of children's literature's most celebrated artists.

Father Mouse wants the strongest possible husband for his daughter, so he sets out to find a match worthy of her. He asks the sun, the cloud, the wind, and the mountain wall, each one seeming powerful in a different way. As the search continues, young readers can follow the playful pattern of this traditional tale and think about what strength really means. Is it size? Force? Brightness? Steadiness? Or something closer to home? Mouse Match is a charming animal folktale with a gentle sense of humor and a satisfying circular shape. It is a good fit for children who enjoy clever stories, repeated story patterns, and picture books that leave room for conversation about pride, family, and belonging.

A young scholar's dream carries him into a world much smaller than his own, where an ant colony has order, purpose, and life all around him. What once seemed ordinary or easy to overlook becomes strange, vivid, and important. Night Visitors retells a Chinese folktale about seeing living things with new respect. As the scholar becomes part of the ants' world, readers are drawn into a story that feels mysterious, thoughtful, and quietly magical. The tale invites you to notice how even the smallest creatures may have their own place and worth. With Ed Young's graceful storytelling and art, this picture book offers a reflective reading experience for children who enjoy dreams, nature, and folktales with a deeper meaning.

The Dragon King has nine immortal sons, and each one must discover where he belongs. Some are fierce, some are watchful, some are drawn to sound, strength, beauty, or protection. With their father's patient attention, the sons begin to find roles that match who they truly are. The Sons of the Dragon King introduces young readers to a legendary Chinese family in a way that feels grand, imaginative, and personal. Rather than asking each son to be the same, the story celebrates different gifts and the search for a meaningful place in the world. This richly illustrated picture book is well suited for readers who enjoy dragons, mythology, family stories, and folktales about identity and purpose.

A boy wants knowledge, and he wants it badly enough to follow the Grand Master's instructions step by step. But the path to wisdom is not as direct as he expects. Each task sends him outward, and each encounter asks him to pay attention in a new way. Based on a Sufi tale, What about Me? is a thoughtful picture book about learning, patience, and the surprises that come when you stop focusing only on yourself. The story has the feel of a riddle, inviting readers to wonder what the boy is really being taught. With Ed Young's distinctive art and a folktale structure, this book is a gentle choice for children who enjoy wise stories with a quietly surprising shape.

Little Plum is no bigger than a plum seed, but his courage is much larger than he looks. Born to an old Chinese couple, he grows up tiny in size yet bold in spirit, ready to face a problem that threatens his village. This folktale turns the idea of strength upside down. Young readers will meet a hero who cannot rely on height or force, but who proves that cleverness and bravery can come from the smallest person in the room. Little Plum is an engaging picture book for children who enjoy unlikely heroes, village tales, and stories where courage matters more than size. Ed Young's retelling keeps the focus on heart, imagination, and the power of a childlike hero to stand up to unfairness.

A marvelous horse can look like a blessing, a loss can look like disaster, and the truth may take longer to appear. In this thoughtful retelling of a Chinese tale, an old man watches the fortunes of his life change again and again. Others rush to call each event good or bad, but he understands that life is not always so simple. As the horse's story unfolds, readers are invited to pause, wonder, and look at events from more than one side. The Lost Horse is a quiet, wise picture book for children ready for stories with depth. Its folktale shape, graceful art, and gentle philosophy make it especially meaningful for shared reading and discussion.

Three sisters are home alone when a knock comes at the door. Outside waits someone who says she is their Po Po, their grandmother, but her voice is strange, her face is shadowed, and the children soon sense danger. This haunting Chinese retelling of Little Red Riding Hood builds suspense with quiet, careful turns. Young readers will follow the sisters as they listen closely, think quickly, and try to protect one another from a hungry wolf in disguise. With Ed Young's dramatic artwork and a folktale rhythm that feels both ancient and immediate, Lon Po Po is a gripping picture book for readers who enjoy clever heroes, eerie fairy tales, and stories where bravery begins with paying attention.

Have you ever felt so small that people look right past you? Princess Djeow Seow knows exactly how that feels. As the youngest and smallest daughter of the Emperor, she is mostly ignored by her busy family. She spends her days quietly playing with her favorite toy, a beautiful kite, soaring it high into the sky. But when evil men capture her father and lock him away in a tall, lonely tower, the rest of the family is powerless to help. Now, it is up to the smallest princess to do the biggest job of all. Using her clever mind, her courage, and her trusty kite, she must find a way to reach her father. Step into this classic tale of bravery and love, and discover how even the tiniest person can be the greatest hero of all.

Step into a world of quiet wonder where every word and image carries the weight of a heartbeat. Through the rhythmic pulse of American Sentences, a poetic form based on haiku, you will follow a young boy and his mother as they explore the profound Japanese concept of yugen. It is more than just a word; it is the feeling you get when you look at a deep autumn sky or the way shadows stretch across a silent room. This gentle story captures the mystery of the universe and the tender human experiences that connect us all. As you turn the pages, you will find a landscape of longing, remembrance, and the kind of beauty that stays with you long after the book is closed. It is a contemplative journey perfect for anyone who has ever looked at the stars and felt a sense of awe. With its elegant simplicity and deep emotional resonance, this book invites you to slow down and see the hidden magic in the everyday world around you.

Sadako is a joyful and energetic young girl who loves nothing more than running fast. Living in Japan after the end of the war, her days are filled with school, friends, and preparing for the big relay race. But everything changes when she suddenly becomes very ill. Sadako learns she has the atom bomb disease, a sickness caused by the weapon that fell on her city years ago. While resting in the hospital, her best friend shares an ancient and beautiful legend. The story says that if a sick person folds one thousand paper cranes, the gods will grant their wish to be healthy again. With unwavering hope and incredible courage, Sadako begins to fold. Every tiny paper bird she creates becomes a symbol of her brave spirit and her deep desire to live. This gorgeously illustrated story shares the powerful, true journey of a brave young girl. Her paper cranes have become a worldwide symbol of hope, reminding readers everywhere about the deep importance of peace and the enduring strength of the human heart.