Wrestlers of the Grassland
by Hao Liu; illus. by the author
Primary    Clavis    48 pp.
8/25    9798890632333    $20.95

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 brushstrokes 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.

From the November/December 2025 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.