Rice
Rice and Survival
Rice is the staple food for more than half the world’s population, and the only source of nourishment and survival for the less fortunate. Rice is deeply symbolic
and is particularly associated with good fortune. In Sanskrit, one of the words for rice, dhanya, also means ‘sustainer of the human race’. In China, rice symbolises a link between Heaven (Gods) and Earth (Men). It is one of the twelve symbols of sovereignty, traditionally representing the emperor’s capacity to feed the people, and therefore prosperity and fertility.

A Song for Cambodia
By Lord, MichelleIllustrated by Arihara, Shino

Half Spoon of Rice: A Survival Story of the Cambodian Genocide
By Smith, IcyIllustrated by Sopaul Nhewm

Hiroshima No Pika
By Toshi Maruki
Li Lun, Lad of Courage
By Treffinger, CarolynIllustrated by Wiese, Kurt

One Grain of Rice: A Mathematical Folktale
By Demi
Rice without Rain
By Ho, Minfong
Sing to the Dawn
By Ho Minfong
The Burning Rice Fields
By Sara Cone BryantIllustrated by Mamoru Funai

The Clay Marble
By Ho, Minfong
Tsunami
By Kimiko KajikawaIllustrated by Ed Young