Kirjahaku

Zhuge Liang (181-234 AD) is one of China's most famous people. He was a smart general during the Three Kingdoms period and is also one of the main characters in the Chinese classic: The Romance of the Three Kingdoms. One time he helped save a city when the army was coming and another time he got over 100,000 arrows in just three days How did he get so many arrows in such a short time? How did he save the city? These and a few other stories are told in this biography about his life.

Yue Fei (1103-1142 AD) is one of China's most famous generals. This children's biography goes through his life, talking about how he grew up, how he trained to be in the army, his family, and some of the challenges he faced. He was also famous for a tattoo on his back that said, "Serve the country with the utmost loyalty." Sadly, Yue Fei was killed at just 39 years old.

Cixi (1835-1908) was one of the last empresses of China. She lived during the same time as Queen Victoria in England and ran the country in the late 1800s. However, growing up she was from a very normal family and lived a very normal life. Although she probably saw the Forbidden City many times since they lived close by, she never entered it until she moved there in her teenage years. Her son became the emperor and later on her nephew, but they were both too young to rule so she helped them lead the country until they were old enough to rule. She also had a big marble boat made in the Summer Palace in Beijing, which is still there today.

Follow Samantha (fictional character), a young girl who has to write a report about a North American animal for school. She looks at 15 different animals. As you read about these 15 animals, look for clues and try to guess which animal she decides to write her report on. At the end of the book is her animal report, a poem about North American animals, and a list of books for further reading.

Fan Li (518-448 BC) was a businessman who lived in the Spring and Autumn Period. He worked with one of the most famous kings of this time period in Chinese history and had a beautiful wife. At one point he was taken captive to another state and worked taking care of horses. Fan Li was also one of the most generous people of his day and gave away all of his wealth multiple times. From all of the experiences and jobs he had over his lifetime he learned a lot about how to have a successful business. The book he wrote about business guidelines and principles is still referenced today in China.

Wang Zhaojun was one of four women in ancient China who were famous for their beauty. She lived in the Han Dynasty and was sent to live in the capital as a possible future wife for the emperor. However, instead of marrying the emperor, she was made a princess so that she could marry the king of the Xiongnu People to bring peace between the two countries. The Xiongnu People were a nomadic people to the north of China, famous for their horsemanship. Her life was very difficult and after her husband died, she asked permission to return to China. However, she was denied and told to stay in the Xiongnu country to marry one of the King's male relatives. She once again got married and kept the peace between the two countries. Since her death there have been hundreds of poems written about her and there's a big tomb and statue of her near Hohhot, Inner Mongolia today.

Liu Xuan (91-48 BC) was one of the best emperors of the Han Dynasty. Months after he was born most of his family were killed and the only safe place for him was the prison where he spent the first few years of his life. When he was around 5 years old he was able to live with a family and had a normal life. However, when he was 17 he was told that he was the closest living family member of the royal family and that he was now the emperor. He moved to the big palace where he started his long reign as emperor.

Princess Wencheng is one of the most famous women from the Tang Dynasty. She was a Princess that married the King of Tibet. Moving to Tibet was very hard for her because she had to learn a new language, culture, and make lots of new friends. This book tells her story.

Henry, the veterinarian, works in Asia and travels every year to visit and work with some of Asia's most unique animals. Follow him as he talks about 24 of Asia's special animals (panda bears, elephants, rhinoceroses, tapirs, gibbons, horses, camels, and many more). Included are pictures of the animals, stories about them, and maps of where they live.