Jaya's Golden Necklace: A Silk Road Tale

by Peter Linenthal

Overview

An enjoyable tale that introduces young readers to an important ancient empire.

While on a very important mission from the King, young Jaya encounters the deities Shiva, Inanna, and Hercules. Leaping from gold coins on her mother's golden necklace, they help Jaya achieve her goal and discover strengths she didn't know she had.

Jaya's Golden Necklace is the first children's book to tell of the origin and cultural roots of the beloved Buddha image. A story of East and West, it teaches lessons and entertains while also opening a door into Asian culture. Set along the Silk Road, Jaya's journey highlights the interconnected and multicultural worlds of yesterday and today.

This engaging, fast-moving tale of empowerment will help children relate better to the powerful beings in human history's rich religions and myths. It also conveys the independence, resilience, and creativity that make Jaya a true heroine for today.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781614292326
Publisher:	Wisdom Publications MA
Publication date:	10/20/2015
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	8.10(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	3 - 8 Years

About the Author

Peter Linenthal has more than a dozen books to his credit as author, illustrator, or both, mostly for kids. He has taught young children art and bookmaking for more than thirty years and has an elementary teaching credential and an MFA. He is also an amateur scholar and collector of Kushan-era antiquities and is preparing a catalog in conjunction with professional scholars of the period. He lives in San Francisco, California.

Editorial Reviews

"What can I say? How charming! How endearing! Jaya's Golden Necklace is a warmly engaging children's story that draws one effortlessly into a piece of history that deserves to be better known: the fascinating world of the Kushan empire.

Tamim Ansary

This age-old tale combines the worlds of yesterday and today in the present moment, cultivating mindfulness qualities for children of all cultures.

Lauren Alderfer

The most important message for children today is to listen inwardly and believe in yourself. Jaya's Golden Necklace teaches children that they already have what they need, that they are capable, brave, and strong.

Krissy Pozatek

Jaya connects one to their own inner child...exciting and fun!

Gina Bates Brown

An enchanting tale.

Peter Frankopan

A fantasy fairy-tale of Asia and India, brilliantly illustrated, for children of all ages.

Sir John Boardman

2019-03-06

Author/illustrator Linenthal (Look Look Outside, 2012, etc.) turns to the Silk Road in this picture book.

Young Jaya's mother has been summoned to King Kanishka's palace to bake her famous apricot cake for his birthday celebration. Jaya is sad to see her go, but Mama leaves her with a necklace of three golden coins. After waving goodbye, Jaya searches for her father, only to discover that he, too, has instructions from the king. He must carve a magnificent statue of the peaceful Buddha, a figure he has never seen. Jaya makes a wish to know what this mysterious Buddha looks like, and the great god Shiva appears from one of the coins on her necklace to aid her. Jaya and her father complete the statue and then must convey it to the palace. On their journey, they encounter more obstacles, which they overcome through the power of Jaya's necklace and the help of the gods Inanna and Hercules. This fun, engaging read-aloud tale offers plenty of action ("From out of the coin leapt the strongest of the gods, Hercules, carrying a ferocious-looking lion skin"). The adventure is richly illustrated by Linenthal in bright, celebratory colors. At the end of the story, there is useful historical information about the Kushan Empire and the multicultural nature of the Silk Road as well as a recipe for Mama's apricot cake.

An enjoyable tale that should spark conversations about the ancient world and diverse cultures.

Kirkus Reviews