Khan's Daughter [Turtleback]

Laurence Yep (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2002

A poor but ambitious shepherd tries to win the hand of the Khan's independent daughter in this lavishly illustrated folktale from an award-winning writer and illustrator team.

In ancient Mongolia, Mongke, a poor shepherd, heard a prophecy: he would become a rich man and marry the khan's daughter. Mongke goes to the court but the khan laughs at him. However, if he can perform three tasks, he may marry the princess. Through luck and chance, he completes the first two tasks, but then the khan's daughter sets the third. He must defeat the bandit Bagatur. Mongke is defeated. Disgraced he returns to the court only to learn that Bagatur is really the princess. Now that he has learned humility, the princess agrees to marry him. They rule in equally and in harmony.

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

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

PW said that this story about a cocky peasant who sets out to win the hand of the Khan's daughter "embraces human foibles with both the ageless charm of a traditional tale and the informal breeziness of a modern sensibility." Ages 4-7. (June)
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-3?In order to fulfill a prophecy and win the hand of the Khan's daughter in marriage, Mongke, a shepherd, must succeed in three trials. His mother-in-law-to-be sets the first two. To prove his strength, he must steal the wealth of seven demons. To demonstrate his bravery, he must vanquish the enemy. The third trial, however, is imposed by the Khan's daughter herself, after which a humbled but determined Mongke does indeed become a wise and beloved husband. While this retelling of a Mongolian folktale adheres to the predictable and traditional quest motif, Yep succeeds in endowing his characters with multidimensional personalities. Mongke is brave, foolish, boastful, then finally contrite. Women are not simply trophies but actively determine their destiny. The well-paced story effortlessly balances humor and adventure, fantasy and reality, and is wonderfully enhanced by the artwork. From their ravishing cover with its acrylic portrait of the Khan's daughter (and a dashing but much smaller Mongke) superimposed on luminous gold leaf, through the gold-framed watercolors that add a wealth of detail and atmosphere, the Tsengs once again capture a faraway place and time and make it eminently accessible to children?just as they did in Margaret Mahy's The Seven Chinese Brothers (Scholastic, 1990). As a sprightly read-aloud or an opportunity for independent readers to lose themselves in an unfamiliar and fascinating culture, this is a solid addition to folklore collections.?Carol Ann Wilson, Westfield Memorial Library, NJ
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Turtleback
• Publisher: Demco Media (September 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0606248978
• ISBN-13: 978-0606248976
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 9.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)

More About the Author

Laurence Yep has been fascinated with tales of sibling rivalry from the day he was born. His older brother, Tom, chose his name Laurence - after a saint who died a particularly gruesome death. Laurence has been trying to get even ever since. Laurence Yep now lives in Pacific Grove, California, with his wife and is one of children's literature's most respected authors. His award-winning titles include Newbery Honor Books Dragonwings and Dragon's Gate.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Book!, September 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Khan's Daughter: A Mongolian Folktale (Library Binding)

This book has it all; wonderful illustrations, a great plot, humor, romance, and a believeable happy ending. If you want a book to expand your child's horizons that you can enjoy too, you won't do better than this.