The Girl Who Drew a Phoenix [Hardcover]

Demi (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

One day a young girl named Feng Huang finds a phoenix feather that has fallen from the sky. When she tries to draw the magical bird and share her inspiration, no one is able to tell what it is. Luckily for Feng Huang, the Queen Phoenix sees her troubles and swoops down from the heavens to offer her help.

A phoenix's powers are not easily revealed, however, and Feng Huang embarks on a journey of thought, wonder, and self-discovery. Wisdom, Clear Sight, Equality, Generosity, and Right Judgment are worthy qualities indeed, but Feng Huang finds that they are only truly powerful when shared.

Brilliant sweeps of plumage and flourishes of sparkles and stars accentuate award-winning artist Demi's interpretation of one of the most intriguing and elegant creatures of ancient myth.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1–3—A girl finds a phoenix feather and decides that drawing the creature might help her to acquire its magical powers. Although Feng Huang works hard, her picture makes the other children laugh because it resembles an owl or a bat more than a phoenix. Pitying her, the Queen Phoenix swoops down to Earth and allows the child to spend a day drawing her. Although Feng Huang's renditions improve greatly, she still cannot capture the mythical beast's spirit. The Queen Phoenix again intervenes, giving the child a list of the bird's powers so that she can learn about each one. Through her diligence, she meets several gorgeous creatures that each embody a virtue—wisdom, clear sight, equality, generosity, and right judgment. Afterward, Feng Huang draws a glorious phoenix that gives her and her friends a ride through the heavens. The powers are relatively abstract, and as Feng Huang understands the opposing forces at work in each one—generosity and greed, wisdom and ignorance—she "draws away" the negative aspect. Brilliant splashes of color and imaginative details bring Demi's vision of this mythical creature to life. What doesn't come alive is the story, which seems little more than a vehicle for the paintings. In addition, no sources for the author's understanding of the phoenix in Chinese mythology are given, and adult readers, who surely will be needed to facilitate a child's understanding of the abstractions, will be left wondering if this phoenix represents traditional Chinese wisdom or Demi's imaginative re-creation of the creature.—Barbara Scotto, Children's Literature New England, Brookline, MA
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From Booklist

In this companion to The Boy Who Painted Dragons (2007), Demi tells the story of how phoenixes help a young girl attain wisdom, clear sight, equality, generosity, and good judgment. After much practice, Feng Huang is able to draw the shape of a phoenix, but its spirit isn’t there. The Queen Phoenix informs Feng Huang that she must know the powers of the phoenix to draw one successfully. Beautiful phoenixes then appear, representing various qualities Feng Huang puts into her drawing. Eventually she creates a glorious bird, which soars through the sky. Created in paint, ink, and Chinese silk brocade, swirling images of  phoenixes with long, feathery tails fill the pages, including elegant horizontal foldouts. While the thoughtful tale has some child appeal, it’s really the exquisite, decorative images of the phoenixes sweeping across the pages that will spark the most interest. Grades 1-3. --Randall Enos

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 52 pages
• Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books (September 9, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416953477
• ISBN-13: 978-1416953470
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 10.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #603,968 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Demi was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and now lives in Yarrow Point, Washington. Demi is the author and illustrator of more than one hundred children's books, including picture-book biographies. Her work has received numerous awards and accolades.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ahh...another lovely book by Demi, March 25, 2010

By 

Jen B (VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Girl Who Drew a Phoenix (Hardcover)

As with every Demi book I've read, and I think I'm close to having read them all, this one is touching and aesthetically beautiful. One of my greatest wishes these days is to have the full collection of her books. There is no one like her.
My six year old was mesmerized by the beauty of this book, and it led us on to find more. The Boy who Painted Dragons is as lovely as this one. I recently bought them both, so I can stop checking and rechecking them from our library, and give someone else a chance.
I highly recommend all of the Demi books, for the stories and the art as well. The stories nourish the soul, like all good spiritual stories should. I think they are shaping my child's inner life and I am glad for that. The art inspires and nourishes as well. I could frame and display every single page in every book of hers I've read. If I could bring myself to destroy one of the books, I would. :)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Allegory, October 22, 2010

By 

L. Witherspoon - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Girl Who Drew a Phoenix (Hardcover)

This is an excellent allegory about the work it takes to be complete as a human being. The art work is beautiful, and the cultural references perfect for young children. My four year old loves this book and so do I.

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book, September 20, 2010

By 

Ranter (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Girl Who Drew a Phoenix (Hardcover)

This is a lovely book. I don't believe it is as nice as some others by Demi, but very nice.