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2005
finalists.

2005 Hackmatack

Children's Choice Book Award/Prix littéraire - le choix de jeunes

At last! An unrivaled overview of the history and philosophies of martial arts!

The Martial Arts Book goes beyond Hollywood's flying fists and quick kicks, to the wisdom and real-life background of these ancient disciplines.

Discover the Shaolin monks of China, whose techniques - like the Drunken Monkey - were inspired by the movements of animals. Meet the female ninjas of Japan, known as "Deadly Flowers," who trained, like all ninjas, in "sideways walking" to conceal the direction of their tracks. Learn the five rules of the hwarang-do, the Korean young warrior's code for students of tae kwon do.

Covering the martial arts from their origins to the present day, and with a final chapter to help readers select a style for study, this engrossing book will serve as a valuable reference and a popular choice for any child with an interest in martial arts.

Laura Scandiffio was born in Germany but grew up in Ottawa. Her most recent book, Escapes!, is the latest in Annick's True Stories from the Edge series. She lives in an old house in Toronto with her husband and their two children.

Thematic Links

• Martial arts
• Physical strength, agility, speed
• Self-awareness, mental discipline
• Meditation
• Peace and war
• Japanese, Korean, and Chinese cultures

Suggested Activities

• Invite an expert in martial arts or a student studying martial art to demonstrate.
• Discuss the pros and cons of self-defence methods.
• Practice meditation.
• Find out more about an asian culture. How is it different than yours?