A May/June 2000 BookSense ’76 Selection
Accelerated Reader Program Selection
“The use of foreshortening and a wide variety of camera angles makes each page a visual surprise. The emotions so clearly portrayed on each character’s face echo those of the reader, who will finish this book with a broad smile.”
—Children’s Literature
“This handsome picture book will be useful for encouraging children to play around with geometry at home or in the classroom.”
—Booklist
In China, a beautiful ceramic tile lies shattered on the ground, and the artist who dropped it is sentenced to the land’s worst punishment. The fierce warlord will execute the artist unless some wise person can put the seven pieces back together. That person will then be invited to live in the castle. Both locals and strangers from far away wait their turns for a chance to solve the warlord’s puzzle.
After learning why these people are waiting to enter the castle, a peasant boy convinces his poor but wise father to join the line. This little boy starts them off on the first step to solving the puzzle—entering the contest.
About the Author
Virginia Walton Pilegard studied elementary mathematics and completed both a BA and MA in education and created the Warlord’s Series to provide children with tales of adventure that illustrate mathematics concepts. Ms. Pilegard is also the author of The Warlord’s Beads, The Warlord’s Alarm, The Warlord’s Kites, The Warlord’s Messengers, The Warlord’s Fish, and The Warlord’s Puppeteers. She lives with her husband in the foothills of California’s central Sierra Nevada Mountains below Yosemite National Park.
About the Illustrator
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.
THE WARLORD’S PUZZLE
By Virginia Walton Pilegard
Illustrated by Nicholas Debon
JUVENILE FICTION / Concepts / Size & Shape
JUVENILE FICTION / Historical / Asia
32 pp. 8 1/2 x 11
31 color illus.
Ages 5-8 Grades K-3
ISBN: 9781565544956