Imagine what a person might see if they were to live to be well over 300 years of age. Would one need to travel the world in search of adventure? Or, would patiently staying in one place over several centuries allow history to create itself before their eyes? Heart of Nine Tigers storyteller, Chen Li, claims to be more than 300 years old. It is difficult to question his claim when he is able to recall, with perfect clarity, events that occurred in the village of Ming Po long before the birth of anyone’s grandfather’s grandfather. Also, there is the fact that no one in the village can remember a time when the old man was not seated in front of the large boulder in the center of town telling his stories to the children. Even the oldest women in the village remember listening to him when they were all very young. As the elder statesman of the entire Ming Po Valley no one would ever show him disrespect by doubting the authenticity of his tales. If Chen Li recalls a summer day when a deep white snow fell across all the land in the valley, then that misplaced frosty day must surely have come and passed. If he states quite firmly that the great conqueror Genghis Khan met his equal in courage at the entrance to the Ming Po valley some 200 years before, then something truly amazing must have happened on that day.
When a man lives to be 300 years old he surely will have seen a great many wondrous things, and if we are fortunate, he shares with us all of his sights and memories.

Synopsis
Master storyteller Chen Li recalls a special day in the history of his beloved home, the town of Ming Po, a small hamlet hidden long ago in time, and far away in distance, in a most remote corner of the northernmost province of China.
Su Tai, is a simple nine year old girl whose world extends no further than her small village and all of her friends within its boundaries. When word comes to her town of the galloping approach of 10,000 conquering Mongol soldiers she knows that somehow she must find someone who is willing to fight to preserve the peaceful life that has existed for hundreds of years in her valley.
The Heart of Nine Tigers shows us that courage is bestowed to those who most desire it and that no limit is placed on that desire. In this beautiful reminiscence we visit a simple place at a very simple time to learn what quiet inner strength waits to be awakened in each of us.

Written by Children’s novelist Keith Lawrence Roman “The Heart of Nine Tigers” is a departure from his usual work in that this book designed as a “read to me” piece for ages 7 to 70 is fully illustrated by one of the brightest young Children’s Book stars, Summer Joy Clancy. The Heart of Nine Tigers is approximately 5000 words long which makes it a perfect afternoon reading session story. Readers and listeners are led through this story within a story by dialog perfectly matched to illustrated scenes.

The Heart of Nine Tigers is a 32 page, 8 1/4 inch  by 10 1/4 inch hard cover edition with laminated front cover and dust jacket. The entire text of the book is printed in full color on 100 pound coated paper.