The Seeing Stick

The Seeing Stick
by, Jane Yolen
illustrated by, Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini

This picture book by Jane Yolen tells the story of an emperor's daughter, who was blind, and saddened that she could not see the world and enjoy the things around her. The emperor calls people from all around to help find a cure for his daughter. Many people came- monks, doctors, magician priests- but no one could help the young princess. An old man with a long walking stick came to help the princess. He explained to the guards that his stick was a "seeing stick" and that it would help the princess to see. In the end, the man carves beautiful images in the stick that the princess can feel with her hands. Feeling the stick, she learns to use her hands to feel faces, her own hair, and the world around her. She then can "see" the world in her own way.

The illustrations in this book are amazing. It begins in black and white, with gradual color being added as the old man enters the story, and the princess slowly begins to learn to "see." The color pages are printed on sturdy, glossy paper, with the images embossed on the page. Readers can feel the images, as well as enjoying the vibrant colors.

I enjoyed the extra information included in the book about names in the Chinese culture. The author shares that the princesses name "Hwei Ming" means "the lightless moon on the last day of the month (Hwei) and "becoming luminous" (Ming).