Little Eagle

by Jiang Hong Chen

Little Eagle tells the story of a young boy who is orphaned and taken in by a kind old man. The story centers on the boy's discovery of his guardian's gift as a master of Eagle boxing, a specialized form of Kung Fu. Combining classical Chinese elegance with elements of Japanese anime, Chen's bold and energetic illustrations bring the dramatic physicality of Eagle boxing to life. Children will root for Little Eagle as he learns his new discipline and faces many challenges on his way to becoming a Kung Fu mater himself. A perfect choice for children taking a martail arts class or simply looking for a good story.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Asia

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[GoldGato · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eagle boxing is a form of Kung Fu, which uses certain animal characteristics within the fighting techniques. This isn't the sort of subject one would expect to find in a children's book, but it's quite a prize, for it teaches the patience and the work needed to learn the repetitions of Kung Fu.

The timeframe of the story is 15th-century China. During a harsh winter evening, an orphaned boy is found by a wise man. The boy is taken in by his new guardian, who turns out to be the highest master of Eagle Kung-Fu in the land. Through the years, the boy learns all there is to know about the artful fighting, as he follows his guardian's methods.



I love the look of Little Eagle in the picture above. It's a display of fierce determination, as the boy trains to achieve his destiny. The book itself is a bit too short for me, and I think it will probably be too short for a child, also. That's because the story really picks up just as it ends, and I wanted more. The artwork varies, between quick watercolour-ish battle scenes and the vibrant reds and oranges of Little Eagle and his guardian.

All in all, I enjoyed this romp and feel it would be a good book for youngsters who are interested in learning about martial arts.

May wisdom and abundance accompany you.

Book Season = Year Round (passing seasons)

[Sarah Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not the type of book I typically read to the kids - but it’s been a goal of mine to read them different genres, specifically from different cultures this year. It’s not an entirely uplifting story, but it fits the customs of the culture well and is interesting in its own right. It’s well written, with fantastic illustrations. James especially enjoyed it and I’d like to find more by this author.

[Kate Y · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story follow a young boy who was orphaned and then taken in by a kind sage who is an master in Eagle Boxing. This story introduces many new things that I wasn't even familiar with prior to reading. But through the story it shares the perseverance and challenges the young boy overcomes. This could be a fun story for children to read and learn about something they are probably not familiar with.

[Guilherme Semionato · Rating 3 out of 5]

Open Library. Not nearly as enchanting as THE TIGER PRINCE.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually want to give this 3 1/2 stars because the pictures are so beautiful. An orphan boy finds himself one snowy night at the door of Master Yang, who takes him in and over the years teaches him eagle boxing, a form of kung fu. The training that Little Eagle undergoes is interesting, and some of the poses/postures that he performs reminded me of those taught in the movie "The Karate Kid." The illustrations were not too successful at depicting action, as when Master Yang and Little Eagle were fighting off General Zhao and his troops. Also, I wondered why, after formally becoming Master Yang's pupil, Little Eagle always seemed to be frowning. Aside from that, however, the illustrations were gorgeous. The ending of the story was rather flat, I thought, and anti-climactic. Still, I'm sure boys especially or anyone interested in the martial arts will enjoy reading this.

[Mary Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful artwork, will appeal to kids studying Kung Fu or other martial arts. The message of perseverance, patience and endurance is strong, but the vocabulary might make it difficult for young readers without some real discussion.

[Tripmastermonkey · Rating 4 out of 5]

better than most kung-fu movies i've watched in the last couple years! beautiful drawings!

[♠ TABI⁷ ♠ · Rating 5 out of 5]

WAY better than "Karate Kid"! Nice, traditional style of paintings that makes you think of tea, silk, and gongs ringing in high mountains. A 'must-read' for martial art fans!

[Sabrina Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Endurance and commitment - two great lessons for the little ones.