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Kites: Magic Wishes That Fly Up to the Sky
"In brilliant colors and on spacious double-page spreads, Demi depicts the origin of the Chinese holiday Ch'ing Yang or The Double Ninth Festival, a festival of kites that takes place on September 9, the ninth day of the ninth month. Long ago in China . . . [a woman] went to a painter of holy pictures . . . and requested a picture of a dragon, 'a symbol of wealth, wisdom, power, and nobility,' but instead of an ordinary holy picture she requested the painting on a kite, in order to 'fly it right up to the sky [so] the gods in heaven will see it immediately.' Soon everyone wanted kites for their wishes and prayers, and finally, Ch'ing Yang was born and is celebrated to this day. The kites are what's important here, and Demi fills the pages with airily desirable kites in the shapes of birds, insects, reptiles . . . and symbols captioned with their attributes. . . . This is a celebratory sort of book that is going to inspire some serious kite-making/kite-flying activities."-- The Bulletin
40 pages, Paperback
First published March 16, 1999
47 people want to read
About the author
Demi
181 books179 followersDemi (September 2, 1942) born Charlotte Dumaresq Hunt, is an award-winning children’s book author and illustrator. During her career she has published over 300 titles.
Demi was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She is the great-grand daughter of the American painter William Morris Hunt, and the great-grand niece of architect Richard Morris Hunt. Demi earned her nickname as a young child when her father started calling her demi because she was half the size of her sister.
She studied art at Instituto Allende, Mexico, and with Sister Corita at the Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles. She was a Fulbright scholar at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India where she received her Master’s degree.
Demi is known for her biographies for spiritual figures including Buddha, Krishna, Lao Tzu, Jesus, Mary (mother of Jesus), Muhammad, Rumi, Francis of Assisi, Gandhi, and the Dalai Lama.
In 1990, Demi and her husband Tze-si “Jesse” Huang represented the United States at the First Children’s International Book Conference in Beijing.
Source: Wikipedia
Demi was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She is the great-grand daughter of the American painter William Morris Hunt, and the great-grand niece of architect Richard Morris Hunt. Demi earned her nickname as a young child when her father started calling her demi because she was half the size of her sister.
She studied art at Instituto Allende, Mexico, and with Sister Corita at the Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles. She was a Fulbright scholar at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India where she received her Master’s degree.
Demi is known for her biographies for spiritual figures including Buddha, Krishna, Lao Tzu, Jesus, Mary (mother of Jesus), Muhammad, Rumi, Francis of Assisi, Gandhi, and the Dalai Lama.
In 1990, Demi and her husband Tze-si “Jesse” Huang represented the United States at the First Children’s International Book Conference in Beijing.
Source: Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 14, 2010
I had about as much luck as did Charles M. Schulz’s Charlie Brown with making kites, flying kites, but I’ve always liked kites anyway.
One cool thing about this book is that in the back there are detailed instructions, with pictures included, for how to make and fly kites.
The story in this book is mostly a vehicle to describe the various traditional Chinese meanings of many birds, insects, reptiles & fish & crustaceans, and other animals, gods & Buddhas, flowers, symbols.
Much of the language is geared to older children. I suspect if this book was read to very young listeners, they wouldn’t know what many of the words mean, but they would enjoy the pictures.
The illustrations, especially of the kites, are compelling to view. They’re delightfully small and colorful. Kind of like paper dolls, some might be tempted to cut them out of the book.
I’m not as wild about some of the traditions, particularly of the three winners of the kite festival each winning animals, and I don’t enjoy the one to one symbolism such as “Mouse brings laughter and happiness.” However, even though I’m probably not the best reader for this book, I did find the story and the kites interesting, and I really like the art project of making a kite that is included.
One cool thing about this book is that in the back there are detailed instructions, with pictures included, for how to make and fly kites.
The story in this book is mostly a vehicle to describe the various traditional Chinese meanings of many birds, insects, reptiles & fish & crustaceans, and other animals, gods & Buddhas, flowers, symbols.
Much of the language is geared to older children. I suspect if this book was read to very young listeners, they wouldn’t know what many of the words mean, but they would enjoy the pictures.
The illustrations, especially of the kites, are compelling to view. They’re delightfully small and colorful. Kind of like paper dolls, some might be tempted to cut them out of the book.
I’m not as wild about some of the traditions, particularly of the three winners of the kite festival each winning animals, and I don’t enjoy the one to one symbolism such as “Mouse brings laughter and happiness.” However, even though I’m probably not the best reader for this book, I did find the story and the kites interesting, and I really like the art project of making a kite that is included.
August 6, 2021
A terrific book about the history and symbolism of kites, with wonderful practical directions for children to make their own kites!
August 24, 2025
China's folklore surrounding kites—how they first came to be, and the symbolic meaning of different kinds of kites—is explored in this picture book from author/illustrator Demi, whose output in this form includes many folkloric titles. Starting with a legend about the first kite—a sacred picture made in kite form, so that the wishes attached to the picture could be brought closer to the gods than offering it in an earthbound temple would do—the narrative moves on to various kinds of kites, from birds to insects, animals to Buddhas, and the various meanings they carry, as well as the Double Ninth Festival for kites. The book closes with detailed instructions on creating a kite of one's own...
It's been years since I last flew a kite—something I did as a young girl, with my father—so I found Kites: Magic Wishes That Fly Up to the Sky oddly nostalgic, given the fact that I know almost nothing about this tradition in Chinese culture. In any case, I enjoyed reading about the folk beliefs covered here, both in terms of the origin story offered, and when it comes to the various meanings associated with different forms of kites. The accompanying artwork is vibrantly colorful, with the artist's trademark delicate forms and diminutive and charming human figures. As with a number of Demi's other titles, I do wish some note as to source had been included, but leaving that critique aside, this was an appealing little book about kites in the Chinese tradition, and is one I would recommend to picture book readers interested in the subject.
It's been years since I last flew a kite—something I did as a young girl, with my father—so I found Kites: Magic Wishes That Fly Up to the Sky oddly nostalgic, given the fact that I know almost nothing about this tradition in Chinese culture. In any case, I enjoyed reading about the folk beliefs covered here, both in terms of the origin story offered, and when it comes to the various meanings associated with different forms of kites. The accompanying artwork is vibrantly colorful, with the artist's trademark delicate forms and diminutive and charming human figures. As with a number of Demi's other titles, I do wish some note as to source had been included, but leaving that critique aside, this was an appealing little book about kites in the Chinese tradition, and is one I would recommend to picture book readers interested in the subject.
June 30, 2017
Chinese Kite Festival
March 19, 2011
This is an interesting, but a little too overly repetitive story about kites. I liked the first dozen pictures, but then it started to lose me. We still enjoyed the illustrations and the craft at the end is one that we've done before; it's definitely a craft that children can make without too much help. We have really enjoyed Demi's books and we will certainly look for more at our local library.
May 6, 2013
Once upon a time in China, a painter of holy pictures is asked by the people of the village to make elaborate paintings that they will turn into kites to send their wishes to the gods.
Many pages are devoted to the different designs the holy painter created and what each creation symbolically means.
Many pages are devoted to the different designs the holy painter created and what each creation symbolically means.
May 13, 2012
This title has some history of kite making, but more than this, different types of kites are explored for their symbolism and purpose for flying. Instructions are included as well for the building of one's own kite. A super read and activity tie-in for spring.
May 31, 2008
kites, flying, China, history of kites, art/artist
more educational fact than storyline; beautiful pics
more educational fact than storyline; beautiful pics
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews