ISBN: 1-59270-063-2
Author & illustrator: Chen Jiang Hong
Website (publisher's): http://www.enchantedlionbooks.com/node/26
Media Used: Chen Jiang Hong painted the illustrations using the same technique that Han Gan used. The illustrations were painted, using ink and pigment, directly on prepared silk.
Summary: Tells about how the Chinese artist Han Gan became renowned for the horses he drew. The horses were so realistic looking that a legend was started about how his magical horses could come to life.
Personal Reaction: The book's illustrations are large and would do well when sharing with a group. The horses are drawn wonderfully - exhibiting strength, power, and movement. The first part of the book tells the biographical story of Han Gan and the second part of the books transitions into to the legend of the magic horse. I felt that the story flowed smoothly and was presented much like it would be told during an oral storytelling. A good legend to me is one that could have happened and a good way to achieve that is to blend fact and fiction. Unlike most picture books, the pages are numbered which is actually quite helpful if you were presenting this to an older group and wanted them to reference a page during a writing response exercise.
Use of Repetition: Horses, which were Han Gan's favorite thing to draw, are drawn into almost every scene in the book.
Curricular Connection: 5th grade Art
California Standard 5.3: Historical and Cultural Context - Students analyze the role and development of the visual arts in past and present cultures throughout the world, noting human diversity as it relates to the visual arts and artists.
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