The Umbrella Tree Written by Bai Bing   Illustrated by Li Hongzhuan
The Umbrella Tree Written by Bai Bing   Illustrated by Li Hongzhuan
Panda Brother and Panda Sister had a very old red paper umbrella. When it rained, the red paper umbrella gave them shelter from rain and wind. When it was hot, it provided them with welcome shade. Panda Brother and Panda Sister loved the umbrella so much that they decorated the handle with a doll panda. And the umbrella loved the two pandas, too. She enjoyed the time when they were chatting and smiling under her. 6
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One day, when Panda Brother was using the umbrella, high winds blew it to a tree. Unfortunately, the top and the handle were damaged, which broke Panda Brother and Panda Sister’s hearts.
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After they came home, Panda Brother asked his mom, “Can you repair the umbrella?” Mom said, “I can only try.”
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When it rained again, Panda Brother and Panda Sister looked for an umbrella. But all they could find in the stand was a new umbrella with many pictures on it. Mom said, “It was difficult to repair the red one so I had to throw it away.” “I want the red umbrella.” Panda Sister said. “I want our red umbrella, too.” Panda Brother said. 12
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Mom said, “I threw it in the garbage. Maybe you can find it if you go quickly.” Panda Sister cried, “I miss the red umbrella.” Panda Brother cried, too.
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From that day on, Panda Brother and Panda Sister started to look for the umbrella everywhere. Where did the red umbrella go? It was put onto a garbage truck by Uncle Bear, then shipped to a faraway tip. 16
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A little monkey found the red umbrella, brandishing it like a sword. When he was tired of it he threw it on the ground. A deer picked up the red umbrella, rode it like a horse and then threw it away. A little fox found the red umbrella, and ran with it held up like a flag. But finally he stuck it into the ground.
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As time went on, the red umbrella suffered from winds and rains. Its red oil paper had been damaged, leaving only the handle and ribs.
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The red umbrella wanted to be herself again. She could imagine herself sheltering Panda Brother and Panda Sister again. But she was only a wooden stick now, deserted and useless. The red umbrella was sad. She fell asleep, with tears in her eyes. She dreamed that Panda Brother and Panda Sister were chatting under her.
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But when she woke up, there were roots growing out of her in the ground, and tender green leaves were sprouting from her head. Day after day her leaves grew more and more profusely, her branches more and more luxuriantly, and her trunk thicker and stronger.
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One day, she found flowers on her branches. Every flower was a little red umbrella. They began to drift down to the ground.
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A little donkey picked one up. A little moo-cow found one, too‌ Many little red umbrellas were flying through the blue sky and the green forests. 28
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Panda Brother and Panda Sister had been searching for the red umbrella all the time and everywhere, but they had never found it. One day, they saw a donkey at the foot of a mountain, with a little red umbrella in his hand. They asked him, “Where did you buy this umbrella? It looks so familiar?” The little donkey replied, “There is an umbrella tree at the top of the mountain, which blossoms and produces umbrellas. I picked up one under the tree.”
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Panda Brother and Panda Sister rushed there, and picked up an umbrella. They said, “This little umbrella looks nice, but what we want is the old one.” “They still remember me! They are still looking for me!” the red umbrella cried, shaking to make herself noticed.
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All of a sudden, Panda Sister said, “Brother, look!” They saw a doll panda hanging on one branch. Panda Brother said, “This is she. Our red umbrella has become a tree and produced umbrellas.” 34
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Panda Sister hugged the tree, and asked, “You are our umbrella, aren’t you?” Panda Brother hugged it too, and said, “Finally we find you!” The red umbrella could hardly believe it. But when she felt the warmth of the two pandas’ faces, she was finally convinced. She shook herself and more umbrellas fell down.
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When Panda Brother and Panda Sister were sitting under hers, the umbrella tree was smiling all the time, like a mother, using all her branches and all the umbrellas to provide shelter against the sunlight. Panda Brother and Panda Sister fell asleep, surrounded by so many little red umbrellas, the flowers of their friend, the red umbrella tree.
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Brief Introduction Panda Brother and Panda Sister loved their old red paper umbrella. After all, it had always dutifully sheltered them from rain and wind, and provided them with cool shade on hot days. The old umbrella loved the pandas very much, too. One day, strong winds blew the umbrella into a tree, leaving it badly damaged. When Panda Mom couldn’t repair it, she simply threw it away and got a new yellow umbrella. Panda Brother and Panda Sister immediately went to look for their red umbrella in the garbage, but it was nowhere to be found. Little did they know that it was placed on a garbage truck and shipped to a faraway place. The red umbrella longed to be with Panda Brother and Panda Sister again, but it had become nothing but a wooden stick carelessly stuck in the ground. As time passed, it was amazed to find that it grew roots into the earth and long branches with green leaves and flowers that looked like little red umbrellas. When Panda Brother and Panda Sister bumped into a donkey who had picked one up, they asked where he had found it. The donkey told them about the umbrella tree at the top of the mountain. Upon rushing to find the tree, they realized that it was, in fact, their beloved old red umbrella. The beautiful tree couldn’t have been happier to give its old friends the very best shade ever. This charming tale sweetly illustrates unwavering devotion, and shows readers that hopefulness and a bit of luck can lead to a wonderful outcome.