All The Way to Lhasa: A Tale from Tibet (Hardcover)

by Barbara Helen Berger (Author, Illustrator) "an old woman sat by the road to the holy city of Lhasa..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
In this retelling of a Tibetan parable, Berger (Grandfather Twilight) features two people on their way to the holy city of Lhasa. An old woman sitting alongside the road to Lhasa (dressed in burgundy and yellow, the holy colors) tells an impatient man on a speedy horse who asks how far it is to Lhasa, "Very far.... You'll never make it there before night." Meanwhile, in answer to the same question from a boy leading his "steady yak," the woman replies, "Very far... but you can make it there before night." Berger's mural-like, full-spread paintings, bordered in deep burgundy, chronicle the boy's treacherous mountain journey as he navigates switchbacks, coaxes his reluctant yak across a flimsy rope bridge and braves a blizzard. (He also passes fluttering prayer flags, mantra-carved stones and spired shrines, which, an afterword notes, simulate actual landmarks that Tibetans would encounter on the pilgrimage.) The wise woman has recognized in the boy a determination simply to keep putting "one foot in front of the other" (the book's refrain) and, sure enough, he is rewarded with a safe and timely arrival at the magnificent city (he passes the "fallen horse and rider" on his way). Placing her realistically rendered hero in a lyrically stylized landscape a world where clouds and waves curl like tendrils (often spilling beyond the paintings' borders), and magical figures materialize in the mountain air Berger subtly underscores both the mysticism of the journey and the universality of its down-to-earth, slow-and-steady-wins-the-race moral. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 4-The story here is a simple one, inspired by a Tibetan parable. An old woman sitting by the roadside is approached by a galloping horse and rider and asked, "How far is it to Lhasa?" The woman replies that he will never make it before nightfall. She is next approached by a young boy, slowly but persistently plodding along on foot with his yak. He poses the same question, but is told that he will be able to reach the holy city before dark. Predictably, the boy's stolid determination helps him reach his goal, passing the exhausted horse and rider who have frittered away their energy along the way. The tale is reminiscent of Uri Shulevitz's The Treasure (Farrar, 1979), not so much in terms of its message as in its ability to deliver a pearl of wisdom with grace and simplicity. Berger's illustrations, done in acrylic, colored pencil, and gouache, sweep across spreads and are laced with numerous symbols from Tibetan art and culture, all of which are explained in an extensive author's note. On her Web site, the author states: "A picture book is a journey for eye and ear, heart and mind." Berger's readers take such a journey here, and it is well worth the trip.
Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Philomel (September 30, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399233873
• ISBN-13: 978-0399233876
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 9.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #354,753 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Long ago in the land of Tibet...", May 28, 2003

By	Roz Levine (Virginia) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

An old woman sitting by the side of the road first encounters a horse and rider. "How far is it to Lhasa?" "Very far," said the old woman, "you'll never make it there before night." The rider kicks his horse and gallops off toward the holy city. Next a boy walks by with his yak, "one foot in front of the other." "How far is it to Lhasa?" "Very far," said the old woman, "But you can make it there before night." And with a gentle tug, he and his yak continue on their way. They climb steep and windy slopes, cross raging rivers, and travel through a blinding blizzard on their arduous and dangerous journey, finally passing the fallen horse and rider. "He thought the dark would come and he would never make it to the holy city of Lhasa. But still the boy kept walking on and on with his steady yak, one foot in front of the other..." Barbara Helen Berger's engaging retelling of this Tibetan parable is filled with imagery and magic. Her gentle and eloquent text, with its simple and uplifting message of steady determination, begs to be read aloud and shared. But it's her stunning illustrations that really makes this picture book a stand out. Each dreamy and expressive spread delights the reader with rich, warm colors, eye-catching detail, and beautiful Tibetan symbols that are later explained in an informative and well researched Author's note. Together, word and art presents a captivating and evocative experience. Perfect for youngsters 4-8, All The Way To Lhasa works well with Don Brown's Far Beyond The Garden Gate as an introduction to Tibet's culture. "Then, in the last rays of the sun before night, he heard deep horns calling. He heard bells, si li li, and drums, dro lo lo. Emaho! He had made it-one foot in front of the other, all the way to the holy city of Lhasa."

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Tibetan loves this book, January 3, 2004

By	T. Short "amalaof2" (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A beautifully illustrated book for children of all ages. My three year old and 1 yr. old both love it. The artwork is ethereal yet engaging. A must-have for any child's collection.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You have to hold it in you hands, September 27, 2002

By A Customer

"All the Way to Lhasa" is sure to become another classic by Ms. Berger. It is sure to find its place beside "Grandfather Twilight". Words and text are harmonious and inseparable. You have to see the book. You have to hold it in you hands.

"All the Way to Lhasa" has a noteworthy quality other reviewers may overlook. The pictures are accurate in their details, accurate right down to the yak's nose ring, making the book a good introduction to Tibetan culture for young readers.