The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks

Description

Wrtitten by Newbery Medalist Katherine Paterson with painting by Caldecott winning illustrators Leo and Diane Dillon A beautiful mandarin duck is captured and caged by a greedy lord who wants to show off the bird's magnificent plumage. But the wild creature pines for his mate. When Yasuko, the kitchen maid, releases the bird against her lord's command, she and the one-eyed servant, Shozo, are sentenced to death. The grateful bird intends to return their kindness, but can he outsmart the cruel lord? Winner of theBoston Globe/Horn Book Award for Illustration, and aNew York TimesBest Illustrated Children's Book of the Year.

Katherine Paterson is a legendary children's books author whose work has garnered many awards, including two Newbery medals (Bridge to Terabithiain1978 andJacob Have I Lovedin1981), two National Book Awards (The Master Puppeteerin1977 andThe Great Gilly Hopkinsin 1979), and the Laura Ingalls Wilder medal for her substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children. Some of her other award-winning books include Come Sing, Jimmy Jo, Flip-Flop Girl, Lyddie, and Stories of My Life. Sheserved as the National Ambassador for Young People's Literaturefor 2010-2011 andis currently vice president of the National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance. She lives in Vermont. Diane Dillon was born in Los Angeles in 1933. She met her future husband, Leo, when they were both studying at the Parsons School of Design in New York in 1953. They married in 1957 and became an iconic artistic duo.The Dillons are the only illustrators to win the Caldecott Medal two years in a row, which they did in 1976 and 1977. They produced more than 100 speculative book and magazine covers together.