Wrestlers of the Grassland - by Hao Liu (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A charming introduction to the strength and nobility of Inner Mongolian wrestlers. -- Kirkus Reviews

Every day, they gather: the wrestlers of the grassland. With arms of steel and bodies malleable like clay, they compete on the open plain. Anand also wants to become one of those brave warriors. He practices from dusk till dawn, for an entire year. He runs with horses, calms a raging bull, dances like an eagle in the snow . . . And then, one day, it's time to measure his strength.

This award-winning story, honored with the golden medal in the Key Colours China Competition 2021, captures the strength, dedication and tradition of a timeless sport. This inspiring tale teaches young readers resilience and tradition.

An extraordinary book about courage and perseverance inspired by the cultural heritage of Mongolian wrestling. For sheep lifters and animal tamers ages 6 years and up.

Review Quotes

A boy hopes to become a mighty wrestler.

Colorful, folk-style images reminiscent of oil pastels depict the open grasslands of Inner Mongolia, where strapping, brown-skinned men in traditional wrestling outfits clash in sporting combat. Young Anand watches from the sidelines, yearning to participate and win the jangga, a colorful loop of streaming ribbons that only the most formidable wrestlers wear around their necks. But Anand knows he needs practice. So for four seasons he trains, not only practicing physical strength and agility, but also demonstrating the attributes of the grassland wrestlers: "strong, persistent, loving, and helpful." A year passes, and Anand is ready. He faces an opponent who looms over him. But before they can fight, a sandstorm begins to rage, tossing yurts in the air like feathers and felling trees. Anand wrestles the wind, righting a tree and pushing to keep it upright. Soon, more hands are helping, and every brave wrestler is righting trees, protecting the grassland against the wind. When the wind retreats, all is peaceful again, and that day every wrestler earns the jangga, including Anand. Liu's gently humorous, elegant text (translated from Dutch) and sturdy artwork capture both the strength and gentleness of these great fighters, as well as the deep sense of tradition imbued in the sport.

A charming introduction to the strength and nobility of Inner Mongolian wrestlers. (Picture book. 4-8) -- Kirkus Reviews

"On the vast grasslands of Inner Mongolia, a boy named Anand dreams of becoming a wrestler and earning the jangga, a collar of honor adorned with "silk ribbons in all colors." Across the seasons, he trains with nature itself: lifting sheep as if "they're as light as the clouds in the sky," halting a charging bull, running alongside horses, and dancing "like an eagle in the snow." When a sandstorm threatens the land, he stands his ground, joined by other wrestlers who rise together to protect their home. The story celebrates strength, resilience, and unity, offering young readers both inspiration and cultural insight. At the heart of the tale is Inner Mongolian wrestling, a traditional sport given "intangible cultural heritage" status in
China in 2006, and Liu's illustrations amplify this spirit: bold, sweeping brush strokes fill each page with motion and force, while the wrestlers' massive figures and flowing ribbons convey both power and joy. Earthy tones root the story in the natural world, while bursts of vivid color capture the pride and festivity of the tradition. This English edition (translated by the publisher from Dutch rather than directly from Chinese) is accurate but somewhat flattens the poetic and cultural richness around the wrestlers' connection to nature. Nevertheless, it remains a striking and accessible book." -- WEILEEN WANG, The Horn Book