Mulan: The Legend of the Woman Warrior

by Faye-Lynn Wu, Joy Ang (Illustrator)

Mulan, the legendary woman warrior, comes to life in this empowering retelling of T he Ballad of Mulan with stunning full-color illustrations by New York Times bestseller Joy Ang.

Mulan loves nothing more than her family. She will do anything for them—even if it means joining the army in her ageing father’s place. Since girls are not allowed in the army, Mulan cleverly disguises herself as a man. But she must look deep within herself to find her might and her courage.

Faye-Lynn Wu and Joy Ang turn this ancient Chinese ballad into an uplifting, empowering ode to young girls everywhere, showing that true strength comes from within, regardless of appearance, inspiring a new generation of women warriors. The book also includes the original ballad.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, China, Historical Fiction, Asia, Asian Literature, Aapi

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 10, 2019

Reviews

[Shaye Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the well-known Chinese folktale of Mulan, the brave, young woman who chose to join the emperor’s army in place of her aging father. She fought fiercely for twelve long years before leading her troop back to the emperor’s palace as a victorious commander. She was offered an appointment to the high court, but ask if she could instead return to her beloved family.

For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!

[Estíbaliz Montero Iniesta · Rating 4 out of 5]

El texto es muy sencillo, pero las ilustraciones son una maravilla ❤️.

[Stacee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great story with gorgeous illustrations.

**Huge thanks to Harper Kids for providing a finished copy of charge**

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely illustrations grace this straightforward retelling of the Chinese folktale of Mulan, the woman warrior who leaves her village to fight for her people, yet whose only desire is to return to her family. Mulan was far and away my daughter's favorite "Disney princess" while growing up. We both enjoyed this picture book that will introduce elementary school-age readers to the legend of a strong, brave, fearless woman.

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

"When a pair of rabbits run side by side, can you tell the female from the male?"

When Mulan's father receives a summoning to join the emperor's army, Mulan knows he's too old to make it through the war. She insists to go in his place because she is a strong and able woman. Reluctantly, her family agrees so Mulan disguises herself as her father to join the other men in the army.

During the war, Mulan spends years and years rising up in the ranks and leads many men to victory. She does all of this hiding the truth about being a woman and she doesn't falter because she is strong and able. When everything is over, she doesn't want a place in the high court. Instead, she just wants to return to her family that she's missed dearly and they welcome her with open arms.

MULAN: THE LEGEND OF THE WOMAN WARRIOR is a retelling of the original ballad of Mulan. It's different from the Disney movie we're used to which I love. Instead of sneaking out, her parents know she joins the war. The illustrations are stunning and I enjoyed this retelling of Mulan. I also love how the men's reactions after they find out she's a woman after the war is over.


Final Verdict: I recommend this story to fans of Asian culture, legends, and strong women.

This review can also be found on YABC: https://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfi...

[Artemis Crescent · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gorgeous retelling of the ballad and folktale of Mulan. The picture book is gorgeous in both art style and writing; presented as a story about modern empowerment for modern girls.

'Mulan: The Legend of the Woman Warrior' is bold and emotional, as well as uber feminist. It teaches girls (and women, too) to be persistent and brave; to never give up any battle and hardship. To never truly give up being themselves for anyone or anything, and to keep believing in hope; in coming home again.

Girls - never give up, period.

Mulan is a strong and inspiring figure - in history, legend and pop culture.


"One should not judge another by their appearance alone. When a pair of rabbits run side by side, can you tell the female from the male?" - Mulan.


I'm sort of hyped all over again for the live action Disney remake, when or if I ever get a chance to see it.


"A woman can fight any battle. Now I am happy once again to be just me, Mulan, a strong and able woman."


Final Score: 4/5

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the prose tepid and while I can praise the color palette and the art was accomplished- it is baffling to see Mulan clearly appearing as female and then have the big reveal of her gender at the end to her troops. Nowhere in the text are children told she had to pretend to be male to serve in her father’s place in the army. Why do we expect them to know this. Also odd is that her dad is first pictured as strong and found and on the next page is to ill and frail for military service. Why not show him
as old and frail to start. I would have appreciated an author’s note that let readers know where and when the legend originated and how much is known about the woman who inspired the story.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a lovely retelling of the ballad of Mulan. The illustrations are captivating and convey such emotion. I love this story and I commend Joy Ang and Faye-Lynn Wu for their rendition of this empowering tale.

[Solia Martinez-Jacobs]

China is at war, and each family must send their men to defend the country, but Mulan’s father is too old, and her brother is still a child. In order to keep her family safe, Mulan decides to serve in their place. Her father says she’s not strong enough because she’s a girl, but Mulan insists and disguises herself in her father’s armor. Mulan is a fierce, courageous, and kind-hearted heroine who perseveres through 12 hard years of fighting not only a war, but also against her society’s gender norms. Joy Ang’s richly detailed illustrations are a modern-day interpretation of historical Chinese paintings. The majority of the illustrations are in dark and neutral colors, and deep reds help intensify the war scenes, most of which focus on Mulan, her fellow troops, and the harsh conditions they face. While this depiction of Mulan vaguely resembles the character from the Disney animated feature film, this book is not a retelling of it. The fantastical and romantic elements have been removed, and instead young readers are introduced to this new translation of the traditional Chinese poem The Ballad of Mulan. Mulan: The Legend of The Woman Warrior is sure to empower young readers of any gender and would be a wonderful addition to a culturally-themed storytime or to read alongside books featuring strong female heroines. Back matter includes the full version of the poem in Chinese script.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous. I think this might be a slightly truncated version of Mulan (or at least the ending felt a little abrupt) but it's so well done that it hardly matters. Wu's text puts an emphasis on Mulan being a "strong and able girl" and proving, again and again, that she is just as capable as any man. The focus on equality and Mulan's strengths are timely and much needed right now. Wu's translation is complemented with the original ballad of Mulan included in the back (in Chinese). Ang's artwork is stunning. The palette here is dark and muted, as the cover suggests, but still leaves a lot of room for nuance. There is a soft focus feel and a lot of beautiful layering and detail work--I can't really overstate how magnificent this book is. Every page is a work of art. Add this to your list as a wonderful non-western legend and keep it there as one to watch (hopefully) for some Caldecott recognition.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a simple, brief retelling of the Chinese tale of the woman warrior who fought for her country in place of her old and ailing father. During 12 years of fighting, Mulan rises quickly through the ranks and when asked by the Emperor to join the high court, she only asks to return home to her family. After she returns home and changes into her clothes, her army buddies are shocked to discover that she is a woman. The full color illustrations convey Mulan's feelings and her struggles. The Ballad of Mulan is written on the back end papers in Chinese characters. Recommended for folktale collections.

[Leila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un'opera che a così guardarla non pare facente parte del Natale, e forse così è. Ma l'ho letto in questo periodo e sono convinta che un po' magia e forza la doni pure lui. In pochissime pagine ritroviamo la "vera" Mulan, quella della ballata e non la giovane accompagnata da un draghetto e un grillo (e una mucca, shhh). Abbiamo disegni magnifici in grado di farci immedesimare appieno in quel che lei fu e fece. Le parole che contornano questi disegni sono poche, eppure non ne scriverei nessuna in più.
Libro che ho trovato nel reparto usato per bambini, credo sia un titolo adatto davvero a chiunque. Soprattutto a chi cerca un po' di forza!

[Katrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

As if the absolutely gorgeous illustrations of Joy Ang weren’t enough reason to read this book, the simple prose interpretation of the Ballad of Mulan is! Unlike the Disney version with a shameful reveal and abandonment of Mulan upon discovering she is a woman, in this book, she serves twelve years in the military, rising through the ranks to a respected commander. When she does reveal herself in her own time at the end, she also offers this wisdom, “when a pair of rabbits run side by side, can you tell the male from the female?” Perfect.

[Debby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This beautifully illustrated picture book tells the story of Mulan, a strong Chinese girl who represents her family when the army calls. She goes on to become a highly regarded warrior who shocks her comrades when she reveals she is a girl. The final end page has The Ballad of Mulan written in Chinese. The book conveys a message that girls are strong and capable of doing anything they set their mind to.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mulan is my favorite Disney "princess," so I had to read this!

The illustrations are beyond perfection. The text is fine. It's just that there's no climax to the story. Any fighting is glazed over, merely alluded to. It's not that I wanted For Honor scenes of gore and dismemberment, but maybe some explanation of who they were fighting and why, who won, and what particular deeds Mulan was honored for were in order.

[Laura Byler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mulan: The Legend of the Woman Warrior is an excellent choice to add to any home or classroom library. The story follows the trials and strengths that Mulan faces after she opts to take her father's place in the military. This book is not like the Disney movie but follows the same basic premise. This book will empower any girl, or boy, who says that they can't do something because of how they look. It also shows children that they can be strong while also being afraid and sad.

[Kamryn Duritza · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was wonderfully written and the illustrations in it I loved. The only reason that this book was rated a two was because I have just now have read it. I have loved the movie since I was a little girl and I just did not think it was as similar to the story I have loved. This is not a reason that the book is bad it is just my opinion based on what I like and don’t like. I did love how detailed the illustrations were and how the illustrations went along with the storyline.

[Ellie Wyatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

i think this book is probably the closest thing to the actual ballad of mulan. the artwork is beautiful. i love how mulan and her horse are drawn. my only complaint is that half the reason i bought this is because it included the ballad of mulan in the back, but it’s in chinese, which is awesome, but i would have like a translated version too.

[Paige Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mulan: The Legend of the Woman Warrior is an amazing book! When I was younger I never cared for the movie Mulan. This movie just wasn't a movie that I enjoyed out of the Disney Princesses. Although as I got older, I have grown to love Mulan more because she is brave and looking back on my childhood now, I can relate more to Mulan than any of the other princesses.

[Ashley Fabry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mulan was something I grew up with, and the movie has always been a fan favorite. Knowing that there was a book that went with it, I was so excited to read it! I loved this book because it shows the strength and power of a girl who was underestimated in her time. This relates to a lot of the world today and the message was good!

[Dabney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love, love, love this book! The illustrations are gorgeous, the writing is wonderful, and I love the message. It's different and the same as the Disney movie, and I adore the way this was done. This is absolutely one of my favorite picture books now. I love it!

[Anneke Alnatour · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book with all the kids, and we all loved the pictures and the story. Yes, it was all a bit brief, and it definitely could have been expanded on a bit more, but somehow the strength was in that too. Loved the thing about the rabbits.

Recommended

[Jessi Riel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful illustrations accompany a straightforward and modern translation of the original ballad—and the original ballad appears in Chinese at the back.
(I liked this one better than Robert D. San Souci’s and usually his retellings are my favorites.)

[Dax · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are so beautiful that I found myself desperately wishing to step into the page. With Mulan being a historical figure this made me want to research more since there were discrepancies with the stories we've been told elsewhere.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 2nd graders clapped after I read this! Gorgeous illustrations and the actual Ballad of Mulan included at the back of the book written in Chinese. One class insisted that I look for the English translation which they then sat riveted as I read it to them. A very special book indeed.

[emyrose8 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5- The Chinese legend that inspired the movie, translated to English. The original Chinese text is on the back endpapers (I google translated it to check). Illustrations= beautiful. Story= makes you want to go out and conquer something!

[Julia Szenborn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will always be one of my favorite classics. I have always loved this story since I was a little girl. I think the message is so empowering. I admire Mulan's strength and braveness. I think it is a great story for all young girls to hear. It promotes courage, passion, and so much more!

[Raquel Pilar · Rating 5 out of 5]

An engaging version of Mulan's legend with stunning illustrations!
Children eagerly pointed out that differences between the movie versions and this one.
I missed some extra information at the end though, it is always good to have some facts to add to the story itself.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stunning illustrations and a good retelling of the story. If you like Mulan it’s a gorgeous book to have for the collection

[Barbra · Rating 4 out of 5]

The legendary tale of Mulan is beautifully illustrated in this picture book. It is the well known tale of the brave woman warrior who courageously fought in her father's place.