The Empress and the Legend of Foo Fu


Children - Animals
36 Pages
Reviewed on 01/05/2020
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    Book Review

Reviewed by Lois J Wickstrom for Readers' Favorite

In a magical land where dragons dance inside the palace walls, Empress Cixi declared that a wondrous dog should be born. This dog was to be both mortal and immortal. It should play with balls and with children and protect the royal family. This dog was known as Foo Fu, a name which means good fortune and blessings. Today we call this dog the Pekingese, or sometimes the lion dog because it resembles a tiny lion. This dog of fabled beginnings is now popular outside the palace walls. It plays with children and protects families all over the world. Those of us who get our dogs from the shelter sometimes suspect magical backgrounds for our new family members. The Empress and the Legend of Foo Fu by Drs. Sambataro confirms our suspicions.

Empress Cixi was the most intelligent and most favored wife of the emperor. One of her least famous, but most long-lasting decrees was the order to breed the Pekingese dog. A myth has built up about the birth of this popular dog. This version of the myth of The Empress and the Legend of Foo fu, by Drs. Sambataro, has been translated and edited by Xiaolei Xie and illustrated by Martha Escobar. My favorite parts are about the naughty lion dog Snowflake, who liked to hide in the snow and tease Princess Peony. This dog could warn the emperor when somebody told him lies. Next time you see the pair of Chinese dog statues, be sure to notice the ball under the paw of the male dog and the puppy under the paw of the female. These statues are of Foo Fu, the legendary dog, both playful and protective. I'm hoping for a sequel about Princess Peony and Snowflake. Young readers will enjoy this well-written, interesting tale.