RAE TAN’s The Emperor’s Egg is a wondrous and richly illustrated reimagining of an ancient Chinese folktale about integrity, courage and patience from the creator of Pancakes for Plum. Read on for a Q&A.
What compelled you to write The Emperor’s Egg?
I wrote The Emperor’s Egg as I felt it would be beautiful to share a piece of my culture and the wonder of the folktales that I grew up with. These ancient stories, passed down through generations, encompass many cultural values and timeless wisdom. It is my hope that The Emperor’s Egg will inspire curiosity and appreciation for a heritage that continues to shape who I am and how I see the world.
This book is based on an ancient Chinese folktale – where did you first hear this story? And do you remember what impression it left on you?
I first came across this story in a little book of ancient folktales when I was about six years old. In the original tale, an emperor gives seven of the brightest men in his kingdom a seed each. Six of them return with beautiful pots of plants, while one brings the (boiled) seed back to the emperor. As a child, I was very taken by the completely unexpected twist in this trickster tale and it stayed with me for many years. I remember not wanting to tell a single lie ever again, hah! The story carries an important message about the enduring power of integrity and courage – told in a most delightful manner without being overly preachy.
What are some of your favourite Chinese folktales? And what significance do these stories hold for you?
Oh, there are plenty! Two of my top favourites are The Monkey King from Journey to the West and The Legend of Chang’e, the Moon Goddess. The Monkey King was one of my earliest childhood heroes — mischievous, brave, and incredibly strong. Later on as a teenager, I began to truly appreciate his growth and transformation. He starts off as a rebellious and arrogant character but gradually matures into a wise and compassionate hero. These folktales mean a lot to me because they’re more than just magical stories. Apart from carrying cultural values, they also connect me to generations before me and to a heritage that I am learning more and more about as I grow older.
Do words or images come first for you? And what can you tell us about your process?
Words always come first for me! Once the manuscript was more or less finalized (after much back and forth with my editor at Hachette), I then began planning out what I wanted to draw for each spread. For the illustrations, this was my very first time trying my hand at digital art. The whole picture book (from the initial rough sketches to the final painting) was fully done on Procreate over a span of 4-5 months. Working digitally gave me the courage and freedom to test out all kinds of colour combinations, as I did not have to start from scratch on a fresh piece of watercolour paper if something went wrong. Illustrating a picture book is an unbelievably tough but rewarding process!
What was your favourite part of creating this book?
I had a whole lot of fun dreaming up the gamut of wondrous magical creatures that appear in the book, from a turtle with a colourful shell and long whiskers to a pink frog with butterfly wings! It pushed my creativity to the limits as I wanted each and every creature to be uniquely different. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this illustration process.
What lessons do you hope readers take away from this story?
It is my hope that little readers will learn that heroism isn’t just about grand gestures or having superpowers. A true hero is also someone who is honest and brave enough to stand by their values even in the face of challenges and temptations. Quiet heroism is also often found in our everyday efforts – whether it is standing up for a friend or sharing your toys and snacks, these little actions speak of bravery and kindness!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rae Tan was born in Singapore and now lives in Perth with her husband. She holds a BA in international politics from King’s College London, and performance diplomas for both the piano and violin from Trinity College London. Currently, she is a music teacher working with young children. She is passionate about creating beloved characters and imaginative stories. Working mainly in pastels and watercolour, Rae’s illustrative style is bold and loose, yet meticulous when it comes to expressing moods and emotions.
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