CHINA

Books | Web Sites

Books

For Teachers

Art of Shaolin Kung Fu by Wong Kiew Kit. (Tuttle, 2002)
A comprehensive introduction to kung fu and other Shaolin practices.

Cambridge Illustrated History of China by Patricia Buckley Ebrey. (Cambridge University Press, 1999)
A comprehensive overview of Chinese history and culture. See also Chinese Civilization: A Sourcebook, 2nd ed. (Free Press, 1993) by the same author.

A Concise History of China by J.A.G. Roberts. (Harvard University Press, 1999)
A chronicle of people and events in Chinese history.

The Open Empire: A History of China to 1600, 6th rev. ed. by Valerie Hensen. (Norton, 2000)
This book examines the evolution of Chinese civilization and the lives of ordinary people.

For Students

Fiction

Adventures in Ancient China by Linda Bailey. (Kids Can Press, 2003)
Josh, Emma, and Libby time travel to ancient China by using a book — just like the Time Warp Trio.

Beautiful Warrior, The Legend of the Nun's Kung Fu by Emily Arnold McCully. (Scholastic, 1998)
Although she is a girl, Jingyong is educated and learns kung fu at her father's insistence. She uses her skills to help a young woman, Mingyi, avoid a forced marriage to a bully.

The Butterfly's Dream retold by Ippo Keido. (Tuttle Publishing, 2003)
These are seven stories from the Chuang-Tzu (a collection of stories written sometime during the Chou Dynasty) about thinking and acting independently.

The Chi'i-lin Purse: A Collection of Ancient Chinese Stories by Linda Fang. (Farrar, 1997)
A collection of ten stories that can be read aloud.

The Dragon Prince: A Chinese Beauty and the Beast Tale by Laurence Yep. (HarperCollins, 1998)
In a tale based on Chinese mythologies, Seven marries a dragon to save her father's life.

The Greatest Power by Demi. (Simon & Schuster, 2004)
Emperor Ping challenges the children in his country to find the greatest power in the world. See also The Empty Pot by the same author.

Homesick, My Own Story by Jean Fritz. (Putnam, 1982)
This is the fictionalized story of the childhood of Jean Fritz, a well-known children's book writer, growing up in 20th century China.

The Kite Rider by Geraldine McCaughrean. (HarperCollins, 2003)
A 12-year-old boy becomes a skilled kite rider to avenge the death of his father in the court of Kublai Khan.

Lady of Ch'iao Kuo, Warrior of the South by Laurence Yep. (Scholastic, 2001)
The Royal Diaries series. Set in southern China in 531, this is the fictional diary of a teenage Princess Redbird who grew up to be a great and wise ruler.

Lily Dragon by Mary Ellis. (HarperCollins, 1999)
Lily and her younger brother Tom travel to China to meet relatives and experience Chinese culture firsthand.

Lord of the Cranes by Kerstin Chen. (North-South, 2000)
Tien, the lord of the cranes, comes to Earth to check on the kindness of mankind.

One Hand Clapping, Zen Stories for All Ages selected, adapted and retold by Rafe Martin and Manuela Soares. (Rizzoli, 1995)
Eighteen stories all reflect different aspects of Zen.

The Painted Wall and Other Strange Tales selected and adapted by Michael Bedard. (Tundra Books, 2003)
In the 17th century, a scholar named Pu Sung-ling collected over 500 folk and fairy tales from all over China. Twenty-three of his stories are collected here for Western readers to enjoy.

The Story of Noodles by Ying Chang Compestine. (Holiday House, 2002)
The mischievous Kang boys accidentally create noodles when they shred their mother's dumpling dough. For younger readers.

Zen Shorts by Jon J. Muth. (Scholastic, 2005)
Stillwater, a magical panda bear, describes the Zen approach to life.

Nonfiction

Ancient China by Dale Anderson. (Raintree, 2005)
History in Art series. Using sculpture, paintings, and other artifacts, this book explores major dynasties as well as daily life in those eras.

Ancient China by Brian Williams. (Viking, 1996)
See Through History series. Full-color illustrations plus overlays introduce students to ancient China.

The Ancient Chinese by Virginia Schomp. (Watts, 2005)
People of the Ancient World series. A guide to warriors, peasants, artists, merchants, and others in ancient Chinese society.

Ancient Medicine: From Sorcery to Surgery by Michael Woods. (Runestone, 1999)
A look at the medical practices and innovations in ancient Egyptian, Indian, Chinese, Greek, and Roman cultures and how they have influenced medicine today.

The Asian Empires by Rebecca Steffof. (Benchmark Books, 2005)
World Historical Atlases series. An overview of Imperial China, the rulers of India, and Ottomon Turkey, with maps and pictures.

Buddhism by Anita Ganeri. (Peter Bedrick Books, 2001)
This introduction to Buddhism includes information about the Buddha's life and teachings, monks, gods and goddesses, festivals, and the differences in observance of the religion from country to country.

The Emperor's Silent Army by Jane O'Connor. (Viking, 2002)
More than 7,500 ancient statues of soldiers and horses were discovered buried near the city of Xian, in northern China. The story of their excavation is told with words and pictures.

Empress of China Wu Ze Tian by Cheng An Jiang. (Victory Press, 1998)
Wu Ze Tian, China's only female emperor, stabilized the government, produced more food, and allowed the silk industry to prosper during her reign.

The Great Wall of China by Lesley A. DuTemple. (Lerner, 2003)
The need for, construction of, and the role of the Great Wall in China's history and development are placed in context with pictures and text.

Imperial China by Hazel Mary Martel. (Raintree Steck-Vaughn, 1999)
How did the Chinese people live under their emperors? Society, everyday life, and the arts all changed after the invasion led by Kublai Khan, the first Mongol ruler of China.

Made in China by Deborah Nash. (Frances Lincoln Children's Books, 2004)
A simple introduction to products, symbols, food, and geographical features of China framed in a story about a paper butterfly. For younger readers.

Science in Ancient China by George Beshore. (Watts, 1998)
Science of the Past series. Examines the achievements of the ancient Chinese in medicine, astronomy, and science, as well as innovations such as rockets, the compass, and moveable type.

Treasures from China by David and Patricia Armentrout. (Rourke Book Company, Inc., 2001)
Cliff carvings, kilns, tombs, and ancient buildings all help archeologists learn how people in China lived long ago. For younger readers.

You Are in Ancient China by Ivan Minnis. (Raintree, 2005)
Through color photographs and a you-are-there writing style, this book introduces the history of China as well as life there today.

Your Travel Guide to Ancient China by Josepha Sherman. (Lerner, 2004)
A guidebook about ancient China includes tidbits such as where ink comes from, how to get around, how money works, and lots of other useful facts.

Poetry

Tai Chi Morning, Snapshots of China by Nikki Grimes. (Cricket Books, 2004)
Nineteen poems capture the experiences of traveling in China in 1998. With illustrations by Ed Young.

Web Sites

Ancient China
http://www.historylink101.com/china_history.htm
Explore the art, daily life, and maps of ancient China. The site includes royalty-free images of the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, and other famous places.

More Ancient China
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/china/
History for Kids offers information about ancient Chinese history (with timelines) environment (with maps), project ideas, teacher guides, and more.

Ancient Chinese Technology
http://library.thinkquest.org/23062/
Explore how technology pioneered by the Chinese is used in agriculture, engineering, mathematics, transportation, physics, and more.

China
http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/china/
Created by the EMuseum at Minnesota State University, Mankato, this comprehensive site offers timelines, maps, and information about ancient China as well as Imperial China.