Ming's Adventure in the Forbidden City

PreS-Gr 2—While visiting the Forbidden City with his father, Ming notices a small gate. Going through, he is transported back in time to the days of China's last emperor, Puyi (who reigned from 1908 to 1912). The young boy emperor delights in showing Ming his favorite parts of the city, before Ming is transported back to his own time. Presented with both English and simplified Chinese characters, Li's watercolor paintings help evoke the scale and size of the Forbidden City. Most also show Ming's frantic father trying to find him in the present. Puyi's tour mostly focuses on landmarks and architecture, with no information presented about imperial life, but this gentle and fun adventure successfully introduces young audiences to the palace. Further information on the landmarks is included in the back, and the endpapers have a map of the Forbidden City.—Jennifer Rothschild, Arlington County Public Libraries, VA