The Greatest Power [Hardcover]

Demi (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Emperor Ping, the boy emperor known for his love of harmony, sets a challenge to the children of his kingdom: show him the greatest power in the world. "To know the greatest power in the world is to know the greatest peace," Emperor Ping announces. "Whoever knows this harmony will become the new prime minister."

The children get to work right away and have many bright ideas. The greatest power must be weapons! It must be beauty! It must be money!

But as a young girl named Sing reflects upon the challenge, she wonders how any of those things, which cannot last forever, could be the greatest power in the world. She is certain there is something even more powerful, and the source of this power will surprise and delight her.

A companion to Demi's stunning picture book The Empty Pot, The Greatest Power continues the story of Ping now that he has become an emperor. With striking artwork and a lovely, lyrical text, this next chapter in Emperor Ping's life is sure to enrapture young readers.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

K-Gr. 3. This companion to The Empty Pot (1990) continues the story of the life of Ping, the young emperor who wants to bring harmony to his kingdom. Ping sends all the children in the kingdom on a year-long quest to find the greatest power in the world, telling them, "A wise person must be able to see the unseen and know the unknown." The boys believe the power is great weapons; the girls, great beauty; the students, great technology; and the practical children, great amounts of money. When the children come to show the emperor what they have discovered, the last child in line, a little girl named Sing, remembers Ping's words. She presents a lotus seed as the powerful force of eternal life, and Ping names her the new prime minister. The text and the handsomely designed, richly colored artwork, which is touched with gold leaf, are set within a circular motif that reinforces the idea of eternity. As usual, Demi ably combines striking artwork and a meaningful story, with quiet dignity and wisdom. Julie Cummins
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Demi is the award-winning creator of numerous books for children, including The Empty Pot, Buddha, The Dalai Lama, The Legend of Saint Nicholas, Gandhi, which was named a New York Times Best Illustrated Book and received an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award, and Muhammad, which was named a Kirkus Editors' Choice selection, a Booklist Editors' Choice selection, one of the Booklist Top Ten Religion Books for Youth, and a Book Links "Lasting Connections" selection, and was cited in a Publishers Weekly starred review as a "timely, exceptionally handsome biography [that] serves as an excellent introduction to Islam." Demi lives in Carnation, Washington.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books; 1st edition (February 24, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689845030
• ISBN-13: 978-0689845031
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 10.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #152,598 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #5 in Books > Children's Books > Education & Reference > Philosophy
  • #16 in Books > Children's Books > History > Asia
  • #30 in Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Nature > Flowers & Plants

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

14 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful for all ages, May 4, 2005

By 

Susan Olsen - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Greatest Power (Hardcover)

This book is my first exposure to Demi, now I am hooked and will read all her books to my children who are quite young now but the message and illustrations will last for ages, from preschool to adult. Adults as well will delight in the gorgeous illustrations and deep spiritual message found in the text. A children's book of superb quality with a multicultural, philosophical and spiritual perspective.