1, 2, 3 Suddenly in China: The Sacred Flower

Young Martin's grandfather was once a world explorer, and now he has given Martin a key that opens the door to his secret storeroom. That's where Grandpa keeps a very special travel album and a magic necklace that can transport Martin to different faraway places. On Martin's arrival in each country, he is greeted by friendly hosts who show him important places to visit, introduce him to the local culture, and teach him several simple phrases in the country's language. The color-illustrated books in the 1, 2, 3 series offer kids fascinating reading experiences while also introducing them to different people and cultures around the world. In this book, Martin is transported to Beijing, the capital city of China, where he watches a grand parade, meets a little girl named Meixiang, her cousin Zhou, and her friendly grandparents. Meixiang explains Chinese writing, shows him the Forbidden City, and her grandfather tells Martin the legendary tale of the dragons that inspire the annual Chinese New Year festival. Later, they all start out on a travel adventure. They visit China's Great Wall, then travel by boat on the Yangtze River, and go on to see many more wonderful sights. Companion volumes to this fascinating book take Martin on exciting journeys to several other countries.