Bamboo

Children who have been intrigued by the power of bamboo shoots to sprout and thrive in the neglected ditchwater of classroom plant corners might be interested in the concise story of Bamboo the farmer, who marries Ming, a good girl from the market. She gives him a humble marriage gift of bamboo seedlings before settling in to endure the bullying and rapacity of her sister-in-law Jin. After Bamboo leaves the village to seek his fortune, Jin’s nastiness precipitates a near tragedy, but the power of the bamboo grove ensures a just resolution.

This solidly made picture book combines the traditional theme of virtue rewarded with poignant visions of a pristine, agricultural China, carried in Shaoli Wang’s naïve and nostalgic paintings.