Short description
As Shen plays and draws pictures in the sand, a mysterious man gives her a magic paintbrush. She paints, fish, pots and ladders and watches them come to life for the poor people in her village. But when the emperor hears of this, how can Shen outwit his greedy plans?
Long description
With her magic paintbrush, Shen can paint steaming pots full of fish and oysters to feed the hungry people in her village. When the evil emperor commands Shen to paint gold for him, she is determined to keep her promise to paint only for the poor. Julia Donaldson's vibrant verse brings fresh life to a traditional tale of how a little girl's integrity can withstand the corruption of power and greed.
Review
The best recent picture book is the The Magic Paintbrush by Julia Donaldson ... it is beautifully illustrated by Joel Stewart and wonderful to read aloud' Daily Telegraph