This is a wonderful tale of a boy with a green thumb in China. The emperor loves flowers and decides to have all the children plant a seed and bring him the plant in a year, he will then chose who will become the next emperor. Although Ping usually grows flowers with great ease, his seed will not grow. His father encourages his to take the empty pot anyway. It turns out that all the seeds were bad, yet Ping was the only honest child who brought back the empty pot and was named emperor. ( )

The book is about a boy named Ping who loved flowers. The Emperor loved flowers too. When it was time to choose an heir, he gave a flower seed to each child in the kingdom. 'Whoever can show me their best in a year's time,' he proclaimed, 'shall succeed me to the throne!'Ping plants his seed and tends it every day. But month after month passes, and nothing grows. When spring comes, Ping must go to the Emperor with nothing but an empty pot. He went. Emperor asked him why he came with an empty pot and when Ping admits that he is the only child in China unable to grow a flower from the seeds distribuded by Emperor he is rewarded for his honesty because ALL the seeds were ruined by Emperor and could'n grow, so all the kids lied but Ping didn't

Cute children's book set in Ancient China. Demi's art is as beautiful and lush as ever. Worthwhile addition to any childrens' library. ( )

A lovely story teaching honesty is the best policy.

FROM LIBRARY CATALOG:
When Ping admits that he is the only child in China unable to grow a flower from the seeds distributed by the Emperor, he is rewarded for his honesty.