Maples in the Mist: Poems for Children from the Tang Dynasty

Let's say you're a parent that wants to introduce some multi-ethnic picture books to your kids. Now, you've been reading the recommended reviews and you've heard of this book, "Maples in the Mist". It sounds like a good book. After all it translates the great children's poems of the Tang Dynasty in China. But let's say you're a parent that is worried that maybe a book of classical poetry will bore your little high strung moppets. Perhaps you fear that this book, while filling a need, is potentially less than perfect simply because there are so few like it out there today. Regarding fears, allow me to put your tender mind at rest. "Maples in the Mist" is not only authentic Chinese poetry, not only interesting, not only gorgeous to look at (all thanks to the illustrations of Jean & Mou-sien Tseng), but also an evocative pleasant book that parents will love just as much as their children will. It deserves to belong in every library in the world. Author/translator Minfong Ho begins the book with some explanations. Though she attempted to get her children to love the classical Tang poetry that she grew up with, Ho found that her Sesame Street addled kiddies didn't have the inclination to sit and memorize the Chinese words. Sensing that perhaps she was going about it all wrong, Ho decided to do an official Chinese to English translation of some of the best Tang poems created with kids in mind. Though this isn't an entirely new idea, few people have translated Tang poetry recently and fewer well. To avoid some of the pitfalls that come with projects like this one, Ho decided not to retain the original rhyme schemes and instead let the poems be translated literally. The result is a collection of sixteen small lovely poems that touch on everything from boyish pranks to the color of maple leaves in the fall. Accompanying each poem is a watercolor illustration by the artist couple Jean and Mou-Sien Tseng. According to their quote on the book jacket, the pictures have been designed, "in a classic Chinese manner". Each picture comes with a stamp of the original author as well as a Chinese version of the poem to the side. Combing through the collection, it's difficult to settle on one single poem that gives me the most pleasure. If I had to choose though, I think "Climbing Stork Tower" is my favorite. In the picture you see a small village below and in the distance peach mist circles purple mountains. The sun is sinking but is still visible and bright through the early evening haze. Even if the poem itself wasn't lovely, I could just sit and stare at this painted scene for hours and hours. In fact, I think that's part of the reason I liked these painted illustrations as much as I did. They're little pieces of art illustrating great meaningful words. And for those amongst you who wish to know more about the Tang poets themselves, Ho includes a useful section at the back of the book. Each poet receives five or six lines summing up his life (sorry, they'r

When I tried to teach Chinese poetry to my American born children when they were kids, it was always a nostalgic trip for me but a bore for them. This past summer, my daughter came home from college, saw this book on our shelf, commented on its interesting looking cover and began reading it. I was secretly delighted to find that she couldn¡¦t put it down. She loved the simple poetries and the elegant illustrations. In fact, she loved it so much that she took it back to school with her. This, to me, speaks volumes for the book. I wish this book was available years ago, but it¡¦s better late than never. Can¡¦t wait for a follow up.

This is an exquisite book. As a young child growing up in America I was also taught some of these famous Tang Dynasty poems by my father. Though I memorized them, I could not fully appreciate their meanings till I was much older. It is a challenging endeavor to teach a child to appreciate poetry, let alone Chinese poetry. The poems in this book are beautifully translated. The translations are accurate, yet they still retain much of the lyricism and cadence of the original Chinese. I think this book is suitable for many levels. Young children will enjoy the simple imagery and the beautiful illustrations, which have all the classical qualities of traditional brush paintings but are more stylized. An older child may be able to more deeply appreciate the subtle nuances of the poems. An adult would most certainly enjoy both. Advanced students of Chinese will enjoy deciphering the Chinese characters on the margins of the pages and comparing them to the author's own translations.

There are pictures in the poetry, and poetry in the pictures. Of course the poems are undoubtedly classic Tang poems, often time referred to as "Thousand Years Poems" because they are so beloved by the Chinese people. I read the Chinese version of the poems and the English version; the translation is very well done. The poems are gentle and very pleasant to read, especially for those children who can't sleep without a story. I enjoyed this book very much; brought back fond memories of the time I was in preschool reciting the poems to the teacher.

This collection of Tang Dynasty poems richly illustrated will amuse children and educate adults. The short poems are translated lovingly and will easily find a spot in the readers heart. I used the following poem, one a many in the book, as a thank you to my mother on her birthday; Traveler's Song--- My loving mother, thread in hand, Mended the coat I have on now, Stitch by stitch, just before I left home, Thinking that I might be gone a long time, How can a blade of young grass Ever repay the warmth of the spring sun? And how can we thank you Minfong for bringing us this verse?