The Enchanted Tapestry [Paperback]

Robert D. San Souci (Author)

Book Description

With the aid of a sorceress, young Li Ju seeks his mother's precious handmade tapestry held by the fairies of Sun Mountain.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"A perfect marriage of tale and art," said PW of this striking Oriental fable of filial love and duty. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-3 Traditional themes of punishing greed and rewarding filial duty are used in this blending of several versions of a Chinese folktale. The widowed mother of three grown sons makes her living by weaving beautiful silk tapestries. After she labors over a tapestry which embodies her dreams for prosperity, her sons are put to a test of courage and daring. Only the youngest loves his mother enough to prevailand he wins a beautiful fairy to boot. The illustrations, combining watercolor, colored pencils, and gouache, call to mind the faded, washed-out appearance of a very old silk tapestry. Unfortunately these soft tones do not support the text, which describes ``brilliant red flowers'' and ``rich green meadows.'' The characters are illustrated in the same style as the tapestry itself, creating some confusion between the world of the larger or outer story and the scenes depicted on the woman's loom. Marilee Heyer's The Weaving of a Dream (Viking, 1986), a retelling based on the same legend, is illustrated with exquisite attention to detail and sumptuous colors. Heyer's use of magical elements and dramatic perspectives infuse the full-page illustrations with wonder and beauty. For both reading aloud and lap-reading, the Heyer title is preferable. Susan H. Patron, Los Angeles Public Library
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (May 7, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803708629
• ISBN-13: 978-0803708624
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,258,306 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Favorite Telling, September 25, 2011

By 

D. Forte "Fight Back w/ D.H." (USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Enchanted Tapestry (Paperback)

This is my favorite telling of this chinese folktale. My son's imagination was captured by this story in the 1st grade. It took me a couple of weeks to locate the correct version. The art and illustrations are subtle, precise and yet they are skillfully done and tend to make you want to look again and look deeper into the pictures. Really neat effect. The seller marked the condition as good, but what came was a new item.

2.0 out of 5 stars not what I expected, August 4, 2011

By 

R. Wilkenson "healthy lady" (wichita, ks, usa) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Enchanted Tapestry (Hardcover)

I was looking for the most beautifully illustrated version of the enchanted tapestry. This was not it - and I didn't know until after receiving the book. I recommend requesting a photo of your used book front so you know which publication you're buying.

5.0 out of 5 stars If you love "Leaf by Niggle" you'll love this story, February 18, 2006

By 

Karen S D Robinson (Loveland, CO USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Enchanted Tapestry (Hardcover)

"The Enchanted Tapestry" is a beautiful picture-book retelling of an old Chinese fairy tale. An old woman makes a living for herself and her three grown sons by weaving tapestries. When she begins weaving a huge tapestry depicting her vision of a landscape and house where she dreams of living, the older two sons are worried about the family income, while the younger son goes to work. When the fairies of the east send a wind to blow the tapstry to them, the three sons set out on a quest to retrieve it. This story reminded me so much of "Leaf by Niggle", Tolkien's story of an artist obsessed by his painting.