Lady White Snake: A Tale From Chinese Opera

by Aaron Shepard, Eida de la Vega, Song Nan Zhang (Illustrator)

Lady White is a thousand-year-old snake who, through centuries of meditation and self-discipline, has managed to attain human form. On a visit to China's famous West Lake, she falls in love with a young man and soon becomes his wife. But when a Buddhist abbot discovers her true origin, she must fight for both her marriage and her freedom.

From one of the most popular of Chinese operas comes this tale of love and courage in the face of blind intolerance. Accompanied by illustrations depicting traditional costumes and staging, this retelling brings to life a timeless legend and a classic art form.

THIS BOOK IS AVAILABLE IN SEVERAL ENGLISH ONLY, ENGLISH/SPANISH, ENGLISH/VIETNAMESE, AND ENGLISH/CHINESE (TRADITIONAL), AND ALSO AS AN ANIMATED DVD.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////

Aaron Shepard is the award-winning author of "The Baker's Dozen," "The Sea King's Daughter," "The Adventures of Mouse Deer," and many more children's books. His stories have appeared often in Cricket magazine, while his Web site is known internationally as a prime resource for folktales, storytelling, and reader's theater.

Song Nan Zhang is a fine-art painter, author, and illustrator who was born in China but now lives in Canada. His first children's book won Canada's prestigious Mr. Christie Book Award. His background for this book includes being married to an amateur performer in Chinese opera.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////

SAMPLE

The newlyweds decided to move to the city of Zhenjiang and open an herb shop of their own. The shop was a great success, for Lady White could tell just what was wrong with a patient and just what compound to prescribe. What's more, she showed great dedication in helping the sick, no matter how poor.

The two were supremely happy with their work and with each other. Adding to their joy, Lady White soon announced she was expecting a child.

One day when Lady White had gone off to rest, an old Buddhist monk entered the shop and spoke to Xu Xian. "I am Fahai, the abbot of Gold Mountain Temple," he said. "I have come to warn you of a great danger. By my spiritual powers, I have discovered that your wife is a thousand-year-old snake. She hides her true nature for now, but one day she will surely turn on you and devour you."

"How dare you say that!" said the young man. "It's nothing but wicked slander!"

But Fahai told him, "Just make sure she drinks realgar wine for the Dragon Boat Festival. She'll change back then to her true form, and you'll see for yourself."

Genres: China, Picture Books, Asia, Music

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2001

About the author

Aaron Shepard is the author of many books, stories, and scripts for young people, as well as professional books and resources for writers and educators. He has also worked professionally in both storytelling and reader's theater, as a performer, director, and teacher trainer. Aaron's lively and meticulous retellings of folktales and other traditional literature have found homes with more than a dozen children's book publishers, large and small, and with the world's top children's literary magazines, winning him honors from the American Library Association, the New York Public Library, the Bank Street College of Education, the National Council for the Social Studies, and the American Folklore Society. His extensive Web site, visited by thousands of teachers and librarians each week, is known internationally as a prime resource for folktales, storytelling, and reader's theater, while his stories and scripts have been featured in textbooks from publishers worldwide, including Scholastic, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, SRA, The College Board, Pearson Education, National Geographic, Oxford University Press, Barron's, Hodder Education, and McGraw-Hill.

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have heard Lady White Snake (LWS) mentioned by some of my Chinese friends in the past. I am glad to have read this book and learned about this culturally important tale. I can't express how beautiful the art is; truly transports you into the story. Chinese opera is a fascinating look at a unique combination of myth and entertainment. I was not able to understand the Vietnamese text in this book.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well done presentation of the Chinese Opera, Lady White Snake. Although a picture book, it is for advanced readers and is a great introduction for adults as well. The glossary and author notes at the front were very useful, and the detailed descriptions in the back were really interesting as well.

[nic · Rating 3 out of 5]

a bit different from the story i know

[Libby · Rating 5 out of 5]

The pictures were stunning. The story was interesting and included information about Beijing Opera.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative and eyecatching

This basic retelling of the traditional Chinese opera of Lady White Snake is beautifully illustrated and handily supplemented by background info and further reading/research source recommendations at the end. Safe for children and interesting for adults.

[Stephanie Frame · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a little kid picture book that I had to read for a class. A very odd story though.