Sparrow+Girl



Ming-Li looked up and tried to imagine the sky silent, empty of birds. It was a terrible thought. Her country's leader had called sparrows the enemy of the farmers--they were eating too much grain, he said. He announced a great "Sparrow War" to banish them from China, but Ming-Li did not want to chase the birds away. As the people of her village gathered with firecrackers and gongs to scatter the sparrows, Ming-Li held her ears and watched in dismay. The birds were falling from the trees, frightened to death! Ming-Li knew she had to do something--even if she couldn't stop the noise. Quietly, she vowed to save as many sparrows as she could, one by one...

This story is based on actual events from China’s Sparrow War in 1958. The citizens of China were told to beat drums and ignite firecrackers for three days—literally scaring the birds to death, to prevent them from eating the farmer’s crops. One child, Ming-Li saves seven sparrows and hides them from her village. When locusts and worms eat all the crops—because the bugs and insects no longer have natural enemies—there is a famine. Ming-Li’s secret is able to save her village. [|**Author Biography**] : learn more about Sara Pennypacker from Sara Pennypacker.

Author, Sara Pennypacker tells kids about her **[|writing process]** :

Sara Pennypacker author video on her **[| Clementine]** books

Illustrator web site: [|Yoko Tanaka]

** Texas Bluebonnet Literature Activities: **

Learn more about **[|China's Sparrow War]** Explore this research website that explains about Chinese leader, Mao tse Tung's "pest control campaign" to eradicate tree sparrows who were being blamed for eating the field crops.