The Empty Pot by Demi
In this wonderful picture book, the Emperor needs to choose a successor. He gives each child a seed and asks them to return showing the flower that blooms. Ping, a young boy with a gift for cultivating flowers, cares diligently for his seed but nothing grows. Despite fears of appearing before the Emperor with an empty pot and the embarrassment of failing to grow anything from his seed, Ping courageously carries his pot to the palace with the encouragement of his Father.
Ping's courage and honesty are exemplary. The illustrations are enchanting. I especially love the two page spread showing Ping and his empty pot before the Emperor. They are shown at opposite ends of the pages, alone. All of the other children and people are gone. Though the Emperor and Ping are far apart, they are focused entirely on each other.
May we all learn from Ping!
