Tripitaka, a revered monk, embarks on a journey to find the words of peace and harmony, aided by quick-tempered Monkey, Great Sage Equal to Heaven, who can transform himself in a thousand and one ways. Fabulously illustrated! (Picture book)

Retelling of a Chinese classic, the mischievous Monkey King seeks out a sage to learn the secrets of life. Along the way, Monkey defeats the Demon of Havoc, steals a magic staff from the Dragon King, and gobbles all the peaches of immortality, but not even the Jade Emperor, ruler of Heaven and Earth, can catch him. (Chapter book)

Tale of seven brothers, each with a different power. At the Great Wall miles away, first and second brother see and hear cries of distress, and send strong third brother to help work on the wall. The emperor is so angry he orders third brother beheaded, but fourth brother with iron bones takes his place. In turn, each brother foils the mighty emperor, who washes away in an ocean of tears. Super watercolor illustrations. (Picture book)

Picture biography of Lao Tzu, the mysterious Taoist philospher who wrote of the great book of wisdom, the Tao Te Ching, plus 20 different verses from the Tao Te Ching, all exquisitely illustrated.
(Picture book)

Delightful story of Little Pear, a mischievous five year old boy. What happens when he flies kites, celebrates with firecrackers, walks to the big city, or eats too many green peaches? Charming line drawings, perfect for younger kids. (Chapter book)

It's the Spring Festival and Long-Long has come to town with his grandpa. Everything in town is a new adventure for Long-Long – selling their vegetables in the open-air market, shopping, eating, celebrating good luck. Sparkling illustrations, filled with wonderful details, this is a gem. (Picture book)

The Five Ancestors series:
Tiger, Monkey, Snake, Crane, Eagle
Jeff Stone

Action-packed adventures of five teenage warrior monks, each amazingly skilled in an animal style of kung fu – tiger, monkey, snake, crane and dragon. Their secret temple destroyed, the brothers (one a girl in disquise) take different paths to fight their arch enemy, and stay alive.
(Chapter book)

Wandering Warrior
Da Chen

A double-edged kung fu adventure – contemporary writing by Chinese author Da Chen, rooted in ancient tradition, the magic and mystique of wandering Shaolin warrior monks. Luka, secret heir to the emperor, pursues his destiny, battling magically-powerful creatures, and aided by two wise monks. Good for teens. (Chapter book)

The Song of Mu Lan
Jeanne M. Lee

Beautiful retelling of an ancient Chinese poem, when the emperor calls for an army, Mu Lan rides in her father's place. Gathering her armor and horse, at dawn she leaves her village to fight, "Ten thousand miles to the border. I cross high mountains as if on wings." Exquisitely illustrated in silken watercolors. (Picture book)

Lady of Ch'iao Kuo: Warrior of the South
(The Royal Diaries)
Laurence Yep

531 AD, southern China. Fictional diary of the Lady of Ch'iao Kuo, a princess of the Hsien tribe. Educated in Chinese culture and tradition, when war breaks out between feuding tribes, Princess Redbird helps defeat the odious Dog Heads, unify the tribes, and ends up ruling a large area of southern China. (Chapter book)

The Ancient Chinese
Virginia Schomp

Illustrated history of ancient China – archeological discoveries, lifestyles of the rich and powerful, peasants and farmers, gods and temples, secrets of silk, paper and bronze, poets and painters, inventions and medicine. Rich, detailed historical illustrations. (Chapter book)

Confucius: The Golden Rule
Russell Freedman, Frederic Clement

Lively biography of Confucius, an adventurous traveler, skilled horseman and hunter, government official, great teacher and witty sage who said, "You can't expect anything from men who stuff themselves with food all day and never use their minds." Beautifully illustrated. (Picture book)

The Great Wall
Elizabeth Mann

Exciting pictorial history of the Great Wall – why the Chinese emperors wanted to construct an enormous wall over 4,000 miles long, 30 ft high, and how they did it. A stunning two page foldout and wonderful illustrations bring the Great Wall to life – you feel as if you're there during a Mongol attack. (Picture book)

Day of the Dragon King
Mary Pope Osborne

Jack and Annie are whirled back to China over 2,000 years ago, when Emperor Qin Shi Huang is the "Dragon King." They have to find the a bamboo book before it's burned, and escape the emperor's soldiers, but a ball of silk may save the day.
( Easy reader)

Amazing discovery of the terra cotta warriors, thousands of pottery figures guarding the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. Find out about the archeological site, how the figures were made, soldier's armor, weapons, and horses. Gorgeous close-up photographs of the terra cotta warriors. (Picture book)

Marco Polo for Kids
Janis Herbert

Pictorial history of Marco Polo's amazing journey through China – the realm of Kublai Khan, Mongol and court life, imperial palaces, Chinese dynasties and culture, plus 21 activities – make your own clay warriors or paper, reorder your room with feng sui, qigong exercises, try Chinese-style painting, make moon cakes. Excellent historical illustrations. (Chapter book)

Stories from the Silk Road
Cherry Gilchrist, Nilesh Mistry

Delightful collection of tales from the Silk Road – legend of the goddess of silk, a magic saddlebag and heavenly horses, demons and dragons of the Taklamakan Desert, and more. Seven stories, each from a different stop on the Silk Road, magically illustrated. (Picture book)

All the Way to Lhasa: A Tale from Tibet
Barbara Helen Berger

It's very far to the holy city of Lhasa, but a boy and his yak keep on walking, up steep slopes lined with prayers flags, crossing over torrential rivers, treading through deep snows on mountain passes, until he reaches the ancient gate to Lhasa. Gorgeous illustrations glow from each page. (Picture book)

In the Chinese calendar, each year is named after twelve different animals – rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, pig. This is a delightful retelling of how the Chinese zodiac was created, and why there is no year of the cat. (Picture book)

All about how Chinese New Year is celebrated, from acrobats to the zodiac, calligraphy for good luck, firecrackers scare away evil spirits, steamed dumpling are a special treat, eating noodles will ensure a long life, the New Year starts with a new moon. Wonderfully illustrated, like stepping into a Chinese family today. (Picture book)

With a magic paintbrush, everything Liang paints comes to life – birds, horses, lanterns, toys, but he only paints for his poor friends and family. Discovered by the emperor, Liang is ordered to paint dragons and phoenixes, instead he creates toads and roosters, and one day Liang paints a boat and powerful wind for the royal family. (Picture book)

A warrior asks Han Gan, a gifted artist, to paint a horse, an extraordinary horse that comes alive. Overnight the warrior wins great victories, but the horse suddenly vanishes. Incredible illustrations, like classical Chinese painting. (Picture book)

A great way to appreciate Chinese painting is to try it yourself. This totally cool kit has everything you need – the "four treasures," watercolor paper, ink stone, ink stick, brushes, plus cake paints and tube paints, porcelain water dish, a project book with complete directions for brush strokes and how to paint cats, flowers, birds and butterflies. Good for older kids. (Activity pack)

“High on a mist-wrapped mountain, cradled in a leafy nest, Panda holds her newborn cub gently in her paw.” Lyrical story of a mother panda and her cub, as she searches for a new bamboo patch in the mountain country. Fabulous illustrations in the style of Chinese paintings! (Picture book)

Travel with young Riley and his cousin Alice to the famous Wolong Panda Reserve to search for a missing panda, and also to find out about other plants and animals in the giant panda habitat. Super illustrations of all the animals! (Picture book)

China A to Z
Justine and Ron Fontes

Fun facts about the people and places of China today – from animals (golden monkeys and pandas), clothing, food, religion, sports (martial arts are popular), yearly festivals, to Zhalong (a nature reserve for cranes, symbol of long life). (Picture book)

Impressions of China in poetic verse and rice-paper collages – great mountains in the mist, sun rising over a fertile plain, rushing rivers, rice, bamboo and precious jade. "This was Middle Empire, China." (Picture book)