Story of Ink and Water (The)

by Qingye Li
Age Range: 6-8

Water Girl lives in a beautiful river and loves playing with her river friends as they bathe and splash around together. One day she is overheard sighing that she is bored by a cockerel who is walking by. He suggests that she follow him to the river bank where she meets Ink Boy, covered from head to toe in black. Then they are joined by Brush Boy and the three of them have lots of fun as they play together creating pictures.

The Story of Ink and Water is a charming folk tale about the ancient traditions of Chinese art written by Qingye Li and translated and adapted by Chun Zhang. The playful, delicate watercolour artwork by Peilong Liang with their light feathery brush stokes capture the essence of the tools used in traditional Chinese painting - known as the ‘four treasures’ – brush, ink, ink stone and paper. There is a helpful page of information at the back of the book explaining the history of traditional Chinese painting – shui mo hua which literally means water and ink painting.