Author(s): Lin Xin

Language Picture Books

One day, Little Mo found an injured little bird in her backyard, and she spent all her time nursing the bird back to health. They quickly became friends, so when it was time for the little bird to take flight again, he didn't want to leave without someone to keep him company.

Little Mo's father came up with a great idea: since Little Mo couldn't go with the bird, they'd make a friend for him that could fly. Little Mo and her father immediately set to work, creating and painting a bamboo bird friend.

As the bamboo bird and little bird took off into the sky together, the bamboo bird seemed to have a truly magical quality. It was able to change shapes, and eventually became a kite, soaring through the sky, while always keeping the little bird company.

This bilingual kid's book tells a story of friendship and whimsy in both English and Chinese. The kite, an important symbol in Chinese culture, introduces children to the world's first flying object and the symbolism behind it. With a history of more than 2,000 years, and one of China's major inventions, the kite is a perfect vessel for learning more about China and its people.

Readers can also make their very own kite by following the instructions at the back of the book.