Publication Date: April 1, 1998 | Series: Aladdin Picture Books
Taking their donkey at the market, a grandfather and grandson try to accommodate several passersby who voice their opinions about who should ride the donkey and how the donkey should be treated, in a story about following one's own decisions.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
A simple man and his grandson have nothing left but their donkey, so they must sell it. This is the story of their journey to the market. Caldecott Medalist Ed Young illustrates this book with spare, beautifully-colored pictures. For ages 5-8.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Publishers Weekly
A Caldecott Medalist retells a traditional fable about an old man and his grandson who listen to everyone they meet, instead of following their own instincts, as they walk to town to sell their donkey. Ages 5-8. Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Caldecott Medalist Ed Young is the illustrator of over eighty books for children, seventeen of which he has also written. He finds inspiration for his work in the philosophy of Chinese painting. 'A Chinese painting is often accompanied by words,' explains Young. 'They are complementary. There are things that words do that pictures never can, and likewise, there are images that words can never describe.' Born in Tientsin, China, Ed Young grew up in Shanghai and later moved to Hong Kong. As a young man, he came to the United States on a student visa to study architecture but turned instead to his love of art. Young began his career as a commercial artist in advertising and found himself looking for something more expansive, expressive, and timeless. He discovered all this, and more, in children's books. The subject and style of each story provide Young with the initial inspiration for his art and with the motivation for design, sequence, and pace. Accuracy in research is essential to his work, too--whether he is illustrating fantasy, folk tale, or fact. According to Young, a strong foundation of credibility must be established in order to create new and exciting images. Through such images, he hopes to capture his readers and ultimately expand their awareness. Young's quest for challenge and growth are central in his role as illustrator. 'Before I am involved with a project I must be moved, and as I try something exciting, I grow. It is my purpose to stimulate growth in the reader as an active participant as well,' Young explains. 'I feel the story has to be exciting, and a moving experience for a child.' A graduate of the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Young has since taught at the Pratt Institute, Yale University, Naropa Institute, and the University of California at Santa Cruz. In 1990, his book Lon Po Po was awarded the Caldecott Medal. He has also received two Caldecott Honors--for The Emperor and the Kite and Seven Blind Mice--and was twice nominated for the Hans Christian Andersen Medal, the highest international recognition given to children's book authors and illustrators who have made a lasting contribution to children's literature. Young lives in Westchester County, New York, with his two daughters.