Working as an apprentice for one of the warlord's artists, Chuan is in the palace one day when a bearded trader from another land bursts into the courtyard with complaints against the local merchants. Chuan tries to help, and for his trouble, both he and the artist are kidnapped and taken on a long journey through the desert. A sandstorm rises up, blocking out the sun they used to know their direction, and the fierce winds blow sand over the trail. It seems that all are lost in the desert with little food or water, miles from civilization.
Fortunately, Chuan had seen the carved fish the artist made, floating in a bowl of water, so he knew that the fish he carried in his pocket was more than a pretty toy: when placed in a bowl of water, it always pointed south. How could that be? Learn how Chuan and the artist made a compass and earned their freedom.
Praise for The Warlord's Puzzle, recommended by the California Department of Education
"This handsome picture book will be useful for encouraging children to play around with geometry at home or in the classroom."
--Booklist
"This is a great story about the origin of everybody's favorite brainteaser--the tangram puzzle. The illustrations are terrific."
--Wendi Gatz, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Cincinnati, OH
"Richly colored, lively, and dramatic, the artwork is excellent."
--The Times-Picayune, New Orleans, LA
Praise for The Warlord's Beads
"A good book for reading aloud."
--Booklist
"Kids will say, 'Aha--I know!' to this puzzle in a story with terrific illustrations."
--Becky Milner, Vintage Books, Vancouver, WA
"The vibrant and unusual illustrations of Chinese pagodas, traditional robes, and the characters' faces enhance this clever story. Children will not be disappointed in this sequel to The Warlord's Puzzle."
--New Favorites: Outstanding Books for Children
Both previous books by Virginia Pilegard and Nicolas Debon, The Warlord's Puzzle and The Warlord's Beads, have garnered praise, including being selected for the BookSense 76 list.
Virginia Pilegard has been an elementary-school teacher and has taught and volunteered in juvenile-correction schools. Raised on a cattle ranch in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Mrs. Pilegard pursued the topic of elementary mathematics and completed an M.A. in education.
Illustrator Nicolas Debon was born in Nancy, France, and now lives in Canada. He has worked in the visual-arts office of the France Ministry of Culture and for the cultural service of the Consulate General of France in Toronto.