Independent Reading Level: Ages 5-8
Awards: Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature (Winner — Picture Book — 2014)

Set during the Cultural Revolution in China, a heartwarming tale of a father and son whose love never stops soaring.

Tai Shan and his father, Baba, like to climb to the tippy-top of their roof and fly kites. The two kites—one red and one blue—rise and dive through the sky together. But one day, Baba is taken away to a labor camp, and Tai Shan must stay with a woman called Granny Wang, who is not his grandmother but is kind to him. A thick forest and many miles stand between father and son. Luckily, Baba devises a secret way for them to talk: Every morning, Tai Shan flies his red kite on the hill, and every evening Baba flies his blue one. The kites wave in the wind and whisper messages of comfort until the two are reunited. Ruth’s muted primary palette of dusty tans and browns are a stark contrast to the few carefully placed flashes of color. The Red Guards’ armbands blaze angrily, yet the two kites soaring in the sky and the bright orange leaves on the trees are spots of hope.

Though this is told against the backdrop of a dark part of Chinese history, any child coping with separation from a loved one may find comfort in this story. (author's note) (Picture book. 5-8)

-Kirkus Review

This book is great for students at an intermediate level. It is about how a young Chinese boy and his father were separated after his father was sent to a labor camp during the Chinese Revolution. They communicated with each other every day with their kites until, one day, his father came back to him. I would love to introduce this book to my classroom because it is important for students to understand and sympathize with people who have had to love from a distance. ( )

This book does a great job of showing the hope and despair during a rough time period in Chinese history under Mao Zedong. When the father is taken by the men we can see the strength of the granny and of Tai Shan hoping for the day Baba will return with his kite. The pictures also allow us to see into the minds of the characters. We can see when they are happy and when things get harder. You can see the despair on his face. This is a great book for young kids to start to learn about this piece of history and how everyone must persevere through the tough times.

Independent Reading Level: 1st to 4th grade.

Awards: Asian/Pacific-American Award for Literature from the ALA. Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People.