Storyseeker: Home Sweet Home

Fish and Bird are the best of friends, and want to share a home. They agree to swap homes to decide whose is best. But the friends soon discover all is not as they imagined. Inspired by the thought-provoking saying The Grass Is Always Greener On The Other Side, this gentle story is set in China and introduces young readers to unlikely friends, a bird, and a fish. They enjoy spending time together but wonder whether the other’s world is better than their own. The meaning behind this proverb is that sometimes we believe others have it better than we do, but more often than not they don’t. Chinese ink wash painting is one of the earliest forms of art, with inks applied to silk or rice paper using brushes made from animal hair. With emphasis on capturing the ‘spirit’ of the subject, the natural world remains one of the most popular themes to paint. Art teacher, Maggie Tsui Yee Ching is keen to pass on her love of this traditional art style to her young pupils. Illustrated by enchanting Chinese ink wash paintings this charming tale shows that not everything is as it seems.