The Golden Disk

Ted McGee is an associate professor of English at St. Jerome’s
College, University of Waterloo.

The Golden Disk is an elegant myth of a little girl named Ming-yue.
During the celebration of Chinese new year, she takes a walk down “the
longest, twistiest, narrowest, darkest lane in Chong-qing” until she
reaches a square from which she sees—for the first time—the moon.
Not knowing what the golden disk is, she seeks the advice of a poor man,
a merchant, and a scholar, who construct the moon in accordance with
their respective desires for dumplings, gold coins, and “the face of a
beautiful woman.” In the end, Ming-yue too, with the help of her
parents, finds herself in the moon. “We named you Bright Moon,” her
father explains, “because we love you and you bring light to our
lives, which would be very dark without you—even darker than our lane
when the moon hides her face.”

The illustrations in this beautiful picture book convey various
perspectives, symbolic figures, and elaborate settings. Most impressive
is the book’s blend of realism and implied myth. Against this backdrop
the figure of Ming-yue, in her quilted red jacket, stands out as sharply
as the moon in the night. Highly recommended.