The Jade Stone

“With its rhythm and sounds, this adaptation of a Chinese folktale begs to be read aloud. Visually it advances like the unrolling of an Oriental scroll.” —School Library Journal

Named a Best Picture Book by San Francisco Chronicle and Book Links
Selected for California Collections by California Readers, 2000

When Chan is given a perfect jade stone and is commanded to carve a dragon from it, he senses a different destiny for the gem—and for himself. Perfect for middle readers and warmly illustrated by painter Ju-Hong Chen, this Chinese folktale offers a clear and gentle message of artistic truth and a lesson in staying true to one’s self.

“A tale about artistic integrity, told with such artful simplicity that it’ll be easily accessible to young children.” —Kirkus Reviews

“This solid retelling of a traditional Chinese folktale concerns artistic integrity . . . This moral tale has a timeless—and somewhat timely—quality.” —Publishers Weekly

“Yacowitz’s thoughtful adaptation of a traditional Chinese folktale explores the theme of truth in art.” —Booklist