WHY DUCKS SLEEP ON ONE LEG
adapted by Sherry Garland & illustrated by Jean Tseng & Mou-sien Tseng
A long, somewhat convoluted Vietnamese pourquoi tale that begins, oddly enough, with three ducks with just one leg each. Helping each other hobble along but weary of the teasing of the other creatures, they write a petition to the Jade Emperor (ruler of gods and spirits) and deliver it to the Emperor's deputy spirit in the village dinh (explained in a note as a community center and place of worship). There, they bargain for the extra legs from an incense burner; and since these are gold, they have to tuck them up at night to keep them safe. Garland's narration is lively and clear; the Tsengs (The Seven Chinese Brothers, 1990, ALA Notable) provide vibrant watercolor double spreads in saturated purple and green, red and gold, outlined in broad, boldly telling black. (Folklore/Picture book. 4-9)