The Chinese emperor has distributed seeds to every child in the land.

Author / Illustrator: Demi
Format: Hardcover
Published: Henry Holt, 1990

The Chinese emperor has distributed seeds to every child in the land. "Whoever can show me their best in a year's time," says the emperor, will succeed to the throne. Ping carefully plants and tends his seed, but nothing grows. A year later, a dejected Ping joins the other children, who all display beautiful flowers in their pots. Yet the emperor declares that Ping will inherit the throne. The seeds were all infertile, and only Ping was honest enough to admit his failure