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...Sara Pennypacker is the author of the acclaimed Clementine series, illustrated by Marla Frazee;Stuart'sCapeandStuart Goes to School,both illustrated by Martin Matje; andDumbstruck. Sara lives in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
Yoko Tanaka made her children's book debut withTheodosia and the Serpents of Chaosby R.L. LaFevers. Before graduating from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, Yoko won a Gold Award from the Society of Illustrators in Los Angeles. Her work has been featured in several magazines, and in galleries across the globe.Sparrow Girlis her first picture book.
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