The Magic Pillow [Hardcover]

Demi (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Based on a famous Chinese folktale, The Magic Pillow tells the story of a poor boy named Ping who is given a magic pillow by a mysterious magician. Ping sees what a lifetime of wealth and power would be like, and discovers that the riches of family and freedom are much more valuable.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1–5—One snowy night in ancient China, a poor boy named Ping becomes lost while searching for firewood. A friendly innkeeper offers him shelter and food, while a great magician, also staying at the inn, entertains him. When he hears the boy express longing for wealth, power, and fame, the kindly man offers him a pillow that will grant his wishes. Sleeping on the pillow, which is decorated with the Taoist yang/yin symbol, Ping dreams of a long life. He commands an army, becomes prime minister, loses everything only to regain it once more, then watches his sons and grandsons repeat the cycle. In the end, "Money was like a flash of lightning in a summer cloud, power was like a flickering lamp, and fame lasted no longer than a bubble in a stream." Ping wakes to find his circumstances the same as they were, but his heart at peace. Demi sets her characteristic tightly drawn, flat-colored figures inside golden circles. Showing the fortunes of Ping's dream descendants, she fills the circles with repeating figures, decoratively visualizing an endless cycle of existence. A detailed note identifies the source for her story. The lesson Ping learns is central to Taoist and Buddhist thinking, so the book would pair nicely with Jon J. Muth's Zen Shorts (Scholastic, 2005) and Ed Young's Night Visitors (Philomel, 1995) where an introduction to East Asian thought is part of the elementary curriculum. However, adults may appreciate the book's message more than children.—Margaret A. Chang, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, North Adams
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From Booklist

In China, Ping is happy with his family’s modest circumstances until he meets a magician who amazes him with an illusion of diamonds. Suddenly Ping desires “money, power, fame, and everything life can offer,” but the magician cautions him, offering a pillow for the evening.  Ping’s dreams show how wealth and power lead to an endless cycle of greed, envy, and war for him and his descendants. In the morning, Ping awakens, grateful for his humble life. Demi’s dainty, jewellike art is the perfect vehicle for this story, adopted from a Shen Jiji short story. Rendered in traditional Chinese paints and inks and framed in her characteristic gold borders, the pictures of Ping’s early life have a graceful simplicity while the nightmarish dream scenes intensify with entanglements. The concluding moral explains,“He who finds peace in his heart has found his palace of gold.” Grades K-3. --Linda Perkins

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books (June 3, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416924701
• ISBN-13: 978-1416924708
• Product Dimensions: 10 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 (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #522,003 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

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars COLORFUL AND CAPTIVATING FOR YOUNG READERS, June 21, 2008

By 

Gail Cooke (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Magic Pillow (Hardcover)

What child wouldn't be transfixed by Demi's illustrations? Her colors are bold, primary and her designs are intricate.. She is an artist with finely tuned sensibilities, one who translates the mundane into the magical. She captures the eye with the hues of her paints and attention to the most minute detail Not only have her books garnered a legion of fans but Demi has been awarded the Christopher Medal and one title was named Best Illustrated Book by the New York Times.

With The Magic Pillow she reintroduces an ancient Chinese folktale. It is the story of Ping, a poor boy who goes out to gather firewood to keep his family warm. But once he reaches the mountains he realizes that he cannot return home due to a sudden heavy snow. However, "Not far away Ping could see the light of an inn. He rode over to ask if he might stay there till the storm stopped."

It so happened that a magician was also staying at the inn. This man performed amazing tricks and gives Ping a magic pillow. Once Ping falls asleep on the pillow he has breathtaking dreams. In these dreams he has everything he has ever desired - fame, fortune, power. But, does the acquisition of these things bring true happiness?

Youngsters will learn from Ping's experience as he discovers what it is that truly gives him joy.

- Gail Cooke

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rutgers University Project on Economics and Children, August 15, 2008

By 

Yana V. Rodgers "econkids.rutgers.edu" (New Brunswick, NJ) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Magic Pillow (Hardcover)

Acclaimed writer and illustrator Demi presents this adaptation of an old Chinese folktale about a boy named Ping who lives in poverty and learns what it means to have true happiness. Ping's family resides on a tiny plot of land and depends on Ping to collect firewood in the mountains. One day as Ping is engaged in this work, a heavy snowfall prevents him from returning home and he seeks shelter at an inn. Although a warm meal from the innkeeper and a magic show by a great magician temporarily distract Ping from his woes, he soon becomes sad again. Puzzled by the sadness, the magician talks with Ping and learns that Ping believes his family's economic hardship will prevent him from becoming a great person with money, power, and fame. The wise man knows better, of course, and lends Ping a magic pillow that gives him new insight into the downside of money and the source of real happiness.

This splendid book gives parents and teachers an excellent vehicle for teaching about scarcity, one of the first economics concepts to which younger children are exposed in school and in their daily experiences. Many readers will recognize and appreciate the artist's unique style, with intricate images, bold colors, and gold tones. The Magic Pillow offers an unrivaled opportunity to expose children to exquisite art work and an important lesson about money all in one sitting.