Red Kite, Blue Kite

Red Kite, Blue Kite

Written by Ji-li Jiang

Illustrated by Greg Ruth

Disney-Hyperion Books, 2013

32 pages

Historical Fiction

            Red Kite, Blue Kite takes place during the Chinese Revolution, making it a great choice for a historical fiction book.  In this story, Tai Shan and his father (Baba) love flying kites from the roof of their house, with Tai Shan flying a red kite and Baba flying a blue kite.  However, they are separated when Baba is forced to go to a labor camp.  Tai Shan stays with a farmer in a town close to his father, and they get to visit every Sunday.  Baba’s visits become less frequent, but they still communicate by flying their kites.  Tai Shan flies his red kite every morning, and Baba flies his blue kite every day at sunset; this is their secret signal.  One morning, Baba comes to Tai Shan and tells him and the farmer that he will not be able to fly his blue kite anymore because he is being sent to another labor camp farther away.  He asks Tai Shan to fly his blue kite for him as a reminder that they are thinking of one another.  Will Tai Shan and Baba ever see each other again?  Will they ever be able to freely fly their kites together again?  Read Red Kite, Blue Kite by Ji-li Jiang to find out!

            Greg Ruth did a wonderful job illustrating this book.  He created his illustrations using dry-brush ink, and he colored them using watercolors.  Ruth used a variety of singles and doublespreads to display the illustrations throughout the book.  These illustrations are very fitting for the time period this story is written about by accurately showing the attire and landscape of the time period.  They also capture the emotions evoked through the text.  When the text is sad, the illustrations display a sad scene with dark colors; when the text is joyful, the illustrations display a happy scene with bright colors.  These illustrations added a lot to this book, and I really enjoyed looking at them.

            This book could be used in any classroom ranging from third through sixth grade, and I believe it would be best used as a teacher read aloud.  It could be used on a compare and contrast lesson.  After the teacher reads the book, the students could compare and contrast Tai Shan and Baba, showing their similarities and differences.  This book could also be used to initiate a writing activity.  The students could write a journal entry from the perspective of either Tai Shan or Baba showing what they might be thinking or feeling while they are separated.  Furthermore, this book could also be used to supplement a lesson about the Chinese Revolution.  These are just a few ways this book could be used in the classroom, and it would be a great addition to any teacher’s collection.