Red butterfly: how a princess smuggled the secret of silk out of China by Deborah Noyes and Sophie Blacknall Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press, 2007.

ISBN9780763624002

Saddened by her departure from her home and family, a young Chinese princess smuggles out one of Chinas most precious secrets to her new home, the mulberry tree and silk worms.

Media: Chinese ink and watercolor.

Q5/P4

• use of onomatopoeia through the text and/or through the illustrations.

I sip from my bowl of tea as my favorite singer tunes her pipa: pluck and snap and plang, like rain on rooftops (Noyes 2007). Red butterfly: how a princess smuggled the secret of silk out of China.

• use of personification through the text and/or through the illustrations.

A little worm that feeds on the mulberry leaves in father’s garden, while I walk it whispers whispers (Noyes 2007). Red butterfly: how a princess smuggled the secret of silk out of China.

·         use of sophisticated language through the text and/or through the illustrations.

I watch the bright moon and breathe the breath of peach petals on the wind (Noyes 2007). Red butterfly: how a princess smuggled the secret of silk out of China.

• Use of repetition through the text and/or through the illustrations.

In my fathers house there are many splendors (Noyes 2007). This is repeated on almost every page of text. Red butterfly: how a princess smuggled the secret of silk out of China.

D. Guhl Summer 2009

Red Butterfly, how a princess smuggled the secret of silk out of China by Deborah Noyes and Sophie Blackall, ill. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press, 2007.   ISBN 978-07636-2400-2

A young Chinese princess, preparing to leave her father’s kingdom for her bridegroom, tucks away the secrets of silk to remember her homeland.

Media:  Chinese ink and Watercolor

Q5/P4

5-6^th

Literary Devices:  Onomatopoeia is used, “…my favorite singer tunes her pipa:  pluck and snap and plang, like rain on rooftops.”  In addition, Alliteration & Repetition, for example:  “rustling in red silk, rustling,” and “Good-bye, pipa song, Good-by, sparrows…”

D. Balestreri added to PB 7/25/09

Noyes, D. (2007). Red butterfly: how a princess smuggled the secret of silk out of China. Illustrated by Sophie Blackall. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN: 9780763624002

4Q/3P

A young princess, soon to travel far to marry the king of Khotan, doesn’t want to leave without momentos from her homeland. However, she, like everyone else, is forbidden to take silkworms out of her country.  The author’s note provides more background information about this legend.

Media:  Chinese ink and watercolor.

TK 4/29/08