The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks

by Katherine Paterson, Illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon Penguin Books 1990, paperback SKU: 9780140557398   A beautiful mandarin duck is captured and caged by a greedy lord who wants to show off the bird's magnificent plumage. But the wild creature pines for his mate. When Yasuko, the kitchen maid, releases the bird against her lord's command, she and the one-eyed servant, Shozo, are sentenced to death. The grateful bird intends to return their kindness, but can he outsmart the cruel lord?