Ming-Li looked up and tried to imagine the sky silent, empty of birds. It was a terrible thought. Her country's leader had called sparrows the enemy of the farmers — they were eating too much grain, he said. He announced a great "Sparrow War" to banish them from China, but Ming-Li did not want to chase the birds away.
As the people of her village gathered with firecrackers and gongs to scatter the sparrows, Ming-Li held her ears and watched in dismay. The birds were falling from the trees, frightened to death! Ming-Li knew she had to do something — even if she couldn't stop the noise. Quietly, she vowed to save as many sparrows as she could, one by one... This thoughtful tale uses actual historical events for a fable about kindness and empathy.
Recommended Age | 5 - 8 |
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Special Features | Mighty Girl Top Picks |
Author | Sara Pennypacker |
Illustrator | Yoko Tanaka |
Publication Date | Feb 17, 2009 |
Publisher | Hyperion Book CH |