The Warlord's Kites Hardcover - 2004

From the jacket flap

In this fifth adventure in the Warlord's Series, Chuan and his friend Jing Jing, the puppet master's daughter, are watching the sunset at the palace gates when they see a cloud of dust on the horizon. It is an invading army.
As the palace prepares to withstand the attack, Chuan continues making paper, while Jing Jing tries to think of a way to scare away the army. Together the two use a bamboo flute, handmade paper and ink, and a little ingenuity to save the palace from a fierce battle.
Children learn about creativity, folklore, and calculating area in a math lesson that's as fun as it is fascinating. Directions for making a kite follow the story.

Praise for The Warlord's Puzzle, recommended by the
California Department of Education
"This handsome picture book will be useful for encouraging children to play around with geometry at home or in the classroom."--Booklist

Praise for The Warlord's Beads
"The vibrant and unusual illustrations of Chinese pagodas, traditional robes, and characters' faces enhance this clever story. Children will not be disappointed in this sequel to The Warlord's Puzzle." --New Favorites

Praise for The Warlord's Fish
"An interesting introduction to the Chinese use of both the magnet and the compass . . . Debon's stunning illustrations enhance the tale." --School Library Journal

Praise for The Warlord's Puppeteers
"The messages of friendship, cooperation, and creativity, as well as the math lesson, make this book a good choice for group sharing and individual enjoyment."
--School Library Journal
Virginia Walton Pilegard has been an elementary-school teacher. She dreamed up the Warlord's Series to provide children with tales of adventure that illustrate mathematics concepts. Mrs. Pilegard studied elementary mathematics and completed a B.A. and an M.A. in education. She lives with her husband in the foothills of California's central Sierra Nevada Mountains below Yosemite National Park.
After working in cultural administrations in both Canada and France, Nicolas Debon lives as a freelance illustrator in Versailles, France. In addition to his illustrations for the Warlord's Series, he is also the author/illustrator of several other books, including a 2003 Canadian Governor General's Literary Award finalist.

Other Titles in the Warlord's Series:
The Warlord's Puzzle (BookSense '76 selection, 2000)
The Warlord's Beads (BookSense '76 selection, 2001)
The Warlord's Fish
The Warlord's Puppeteers

Media reviews

Citations

• Booklist, 11/15/2004, Page 591
• Hornbook Guide to Children, 01/01/2005, Page 48
• Multicultural Review, 06/01/2005, Page 96
• School Library Journal, 02/15/2005, Page 108