#515 of 1001 · December 28, 2021

You’ll find wisdom and wonder in equal measure when you read The Fourth Question, a Chinese tale retold by Rosalind C. Wang and illustrated by Ju-Hong Chen Yee-Lee wonders why he is poor despite his hard work, and resolves to seek the counsel of the Wise Man of Kun-lun Mountain. On his way he meets several people with questions of their own. An old woman asks why her daughter is mute; a farmer asks why his fields lie barren; a dragon asks why he cannot ascend to heaven. Yee-Lee agrees to obtain the answers to these questions as well. But, when he reaches Kun-lun Mountain, the Wise Man tells him of an unexpected rule: visitors may only ask questions in odd numbers. Thus, he must give up one of his four questions and only ask three. After thinking it over, he selflessly decides abandon his original quest in order to keep his promises. Wang’s straightforward text and Chen’s smudge-textured art create a beautifully satisfying journey. #question #questions #wisdom #magic #book #books #childrensbooks #beautifulbook #beautifulbooks #beautifulbookcover #beautifulbookcovers #picturebook #picturebooks #picturebookillustration #picturebookillustrations #picturebookart #childrensbookillustration #childrensliterature #illustration #kidlit #kidsbooks #bookworm #booklover #booklovers #bibliophile #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #instabook #instabooks