True Blue

High above a mountain village, tucked away in the clouds, lies Qing Qing’s indigo workshop. The vibrant blue cloth crafted here is famous far and wide, but only one family knows the ancient secrets hidden within the dye. This charming story is translated from an original Chinese folktale from the Miao culture, about the traditions of batik printing. The narrative focuses on a young girl, Qing Qing, and her family.

The narrative tells us of the history and traditions of batik and its importance to the people. The process begins when the indigo pickers gather the materials from the fields to dye the cloth that special hue of blue, through to the spinning of the material in their home, the tracing of intricate patterns of wax and the dying of the material. Every stage of the process from inception to a range of finished products is detailed and allows a special window into a magical and mystical world which still unfolds every year today.

This story is quite unique and the delicate and enchanting illustrations, invoking a spiritual landscape, and the engaging crafting of the words make this a truly special book, suitable for young readers and adults alike. The end notes were extremely informative expanding on the details of this important cultural heritage. A sheer delight.