Perma-Bound from Publisher's Hardcover ©2016 | -- |
A wealthy lord has everything, yet it's never enough until deprivation teaches him life's true riches.Lying in luxury atop Hunger Mountain, a haughty cat lord lives in excess. His clothes are spun from silk and gold, and he always leaves his bowl of the finest rice half eaten. But a drought begins, and famine spreads. The villagers leave; still the arrogant feline stays, refusing to part with his possessions. Finally, starving and alone, the lord ventures out and must beg for food. When a kindly monk gives him a spoonful of rice-the grains of which were collected from the cat's wasted extravagance at Hunger Mountain-the lord finally understands what it means to be blessed. The well-paced fable is visually stunning, as photographs, textured paper, string, and other materials combine into magnificent paper collage illustrations. At times abstract but always beautifully composed, the artwork shows a deep appreciation for its audience, boldly challenging readers to interpret and extract meaning. During the cat's epiphany, the mountain and mist resolve into a symbolic panda servant dutifully washing the rich lord's rice. In a time when almost all illustrators use digital manipulation, this artist only needs paper and scissors to assemble a brilliant image. Young is at the height of his powers in this fable that offers a feast for the eyes, mind, and soul. A visual masterpiece. (Picture book. 4-8)
School Library Journal Starred Review (Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)K-Gr 4 Lord Cat lives well on his mountaintop, blessed with the finest of goods and plenty of rice to eat. He has servants to build him the best home and prepare and serve his delicious meals. There are also workers to tend his prolific rice paddies. Life is stable until, one year, drought hits and crops fail. Eventually most of the villagers move from the mountain in search of a better life. Lord Cat refuses to abandon all that he has accrued even though his great wealth now means nothing. Finally, at the point of starvation, he leaves his home to beg for food from whomever he can. He learns of a generous monk, willing to serve rice to any in need. Lord Cat becomes most grateful for just a half bowl of rice that he would have scorned and thrown away before. Lord Cat learns an invaluable lesson when he discovers how the gracious monk accumulated his reserve. Caldecott-winning author/illustrator Young has created another stunning and meaningful picture book to be enjoyed by all ages. This poignant story reinforces the importance of limiting waste, being grateful for what one has, and sharing in a manner that is deliberate and sincere. The animal characters make this title especially inviting and accessible for young readers. The visuals, completed in mixed-media collage, are striking with their use of many colors, textures, and types of materials. This book is exquisite in text, tone, and illustration. VERDICT A compelling fable that is crucial for humanity and will spark meaningful classroom conversations.— Amy Shepherd, St. Anne's Episcopal School, Middleton, DE
ALA Booklist (Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)Lord Cat lives in a tall pagoda atop Hunger Mountain and looks down on his fields below, yet he is never satisfied. Dressed in fine garments, he eats half the rice in his enormous bowl and discards the rest. When drought destroys the crops, his servants and the farmers go hungry and move away. Humbled, the cat becomes a beggar and makes his way to a monk who feeds the poor. Where did the fine rice come from? For years, the monk collected the grains that the wealthy cat and his harried servants wasted. Now he shares them with all. The cat feels blessed. Written with simplicity and dignity, Young's original fable has no stated moral, but it could open up several topics for discussion. The striking illustrations are complex collages combining textured, woven, and marbled papers with partial photos of subjects such as animals, mountains, trees, wooden shutters, and carpeting. Most effective when viewed from a little distance, they create a series of varied, evocative scenes. A handsome picture book.
Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)A wealthy lord has everything, yet it's never enough until deprivation teaches him life's true riches.Lying in luxury atop Hunger Mountain, a haughty cat lord lives in excess. His clothes are spun from silk and gold, and he always leaves his bowl of the finest rice half eaten. But a drought begins, and famine spreads. The villagers leave; still the arrogant feline stays, refusing to part with his possessions. Finally, starving and alone, the lord ventures out and must beg for food. When a kindly monk gives him a spoonful of rice-the grains of which were collected from the cat's wasted extravagance at Hunger Mountain-the lord finally understands what it means to be blessed. The well-paced fable is visually stunning, as photographs, textured paper, string, and other materials combine into magnificent paper collage illustrations. At times abstract but always beautifully composed, the artwork shows a deep appreciation for its audience, boldly challenging readers to interpret and extract meaning. During the cat's epiphany, the mountain and mist resolve into a symbolic panda servant dutifully washing the rich lord's rice. In a time when almost all illustrators use digital manipulation, this artist only needs paper and scissors to assemble a brilliant image. Young is at the height of his powers in this fable that offers a feast for the eyes, mind, and soul. A visual masterpiece. (Picture book. 4-8)
Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)Young (
Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews
School Library Journal Starred Review (Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)
ALA Booklist (Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)
Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)
Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)
Wilson's Children's Catalog
Caldecott Medalist Ed Young delivers a visually stunning, poignant story about humility, wastefulness, and appreciating what one has.
A New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book of 2016!
An Amazon Best Book of the Year!
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year!
"Young creates a stunning visual symphony with a surprising and unsettling emotional power."--New York Times Book Review
* "The well-paced fable is visually stunning . . . Young is at the height of his powers in this fable that offers a feast for the eyes, mind, and soul. A visual masterpiece."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review
* "Caldecott-winning author/illustrator Young has created another stunning and meaningful picture book to be enjoyed by all ages. This book is exquisite in text, tone, and illustration. A compelling fable that is crucial for humanity and will spark meaningful classroom conversations."--School Library Journal, starred review
* "Young weaves an elegant cautionary fable."--Publishers Weekly, starred review
In a place called Hunger Mountain there lives a lord who has everything imaginable yet never has enough. To satisfy his every desire, he hires builders to design the tallest pagoda; a world-famous tailor to make his clothing from silk and gold threads; and a renowned chef to cook him lavish meals with rice from the lord's own fields. What more could he possibly want?
Yet when drought plagues the land, Lord Cat is faced with his first taste of deep loss, he ventures down the mountain and what he discovers will change his life forever.
Rendered in exquisite mixed-media collage, Caldecott Medalist Ed Young's deceptively simple fable is a deeply affecting tale about appreciating the value of treasures that need not be chased.