SYNOPSIS

Young Wu Daozi loves drawing worms, fish, and horses much more than practicing calligraphy characters in class. His murals around town are so enchanting that adoring crowds gather to watch him work, and leave food and coins for him. As Daozi’s talent grows, his drawings come alive and start leaving the canvass! Having heard of Daozi’s mastery, the Chinese emperor commissions him to paint a grand masterpiece in the palace. Master Wu works in seclusion for many years, and when his landscape is officially unveiled, it looks so realistic that the old painter walks into it and… disappears.

PERFECT AGE 5 – 9

THEMES

• Artistic talent, passion for one’s art
• Art’s ability to become “alive”
• Art’s ability to enchant observers

We love

• Gorgeous, perfectly styled drawings!
• Beautifully retold story of famous Chinese painter Wu Daozi (who lived in 7-8 c. T’ang Dynasty)
• Lovely mix of history, legend, art and poetry:
•  The crowd fell silent.
•  The emperor bowed.
•  The moon wept.
• Because little has been written about Daozi since his time, the author pieced his story together from “references … found in translations of T’ang poetry and essays”, as well as facts about life during T’ang times

CONVERSATION STARTERS

• How is it possible that young Daozi painted so much that he didn’t know if he was standing or sitting? Have you ever felt this way?
• Why do you think the children followed Daozi when the grownups deserted him?
• What could the author mean when she says that drawn butterflies fly away and painted waterfalls spill out of mountainsides?
• Why do you think the unveiling of Master Wu’s final mural was so festive and huge? How do you think it felt to be there?