The young granddaughter of a Chinese potter befriends a golden-haired princess halfway around the world through her portrait on a Ming vase. A touching fairy tale brought to life in luxurious illustration.
Little Butterfly’s grandfather is a famous ceramicist in ancient China, while she is his helper and his inspiration, the “pearl in the palm of his hand.” One day, he paints a picture of her dancing on the belly of a beautiful vase; a vase that is bought, shipped across the ocean, and finally displayed in the home of a European king, whose young daughter falls in love with it.
One day, the young princess falls asleep while admiring the vase; in her dream, she meets Little Butterfly, and the two play Chinese games and become friends. Upon waking, the princess tells everything to her father and mother, who order the country’s best craftsman to learn the Chinese art of ceramics and glazing in order to paint the young girls’ far-away friendship on new china.
This book, a collaboration between Taiwanese author K. T. Hao and Italian illustrator Monica Berengo, has garnered acclaim from readers and editors from around the world for its touching, fable-like story and endearing illustrations. It incorporates historical knowledge into a moving narrative about friendship, cultural communication, and our ability to commune with others across time and distance.
