Praise
The entire story brims with innocence and childlike fascination, its images trickling by in an unhurried stream. It all seems very subdued, but at every turn there are exquisite little surprises. The medium Xiong has chosen—silk—is both traditionally Chinese and famously difficult to work with. By developing an innovative twist on traditional methods that combines rubbing and collage techniques to produce images, he hits a personal high for storytelling and artistic skill, beyond anything seen in his work in recent years.
— Yimin Mao, Founder of Meridian
Considering the scarcity of illustrated books in the Chinese children's literature market at the beginning of the 21st Century, it's fair to call his output 'prodigious' (indeed, it is unmatched inside China). Even more remarkable is the variety of styles he has boldly taken on from the very beginning, from works of ink wash painting and cut paper dripping with Asian tradition, to modern art bursting with color and individuality. His topics are similarly diverse, ranging from traditional Chinese folk art, nursery rhymes, legends, and Buddhist stories to children's works of pure fantasy. Some of his stories even draw on the everyday lives of today's children (especially those from rural areas). No matter his choice of medium, style, or subject, Xiong’s drive for artistic perfection has gradually brought into being a flawless, one-of-a-kind fusion of traditional and modern art.
— A Jia, Red Clay Reading