Plugging One’s Ears to Steal a Noisy Bell (Chinese-English Edition): A Classic Chinese Idiom Picture Book

Zhang San was a notorious thief in the state of Jin during the Spring and Autumn Period. He set his sights on a priceless bronze bell—but the bell was heavy, and striking it would make a sound. So Zhang San came up with a plan: he plugged his own ears, convinced that if he could not hear the bell, no one else could either. He then hammered the bell to break it into pieces for easier transport. The loud clang woke the owner, who caught him red-handed. This classic Chinese idiom story from The Annals of Lü Buwei introduces young readers to the absurdity of self-deception: plugging your own ears does not make the world silent. This bilingual picture book features full-colour original illustrations, English text proofread by a native English speaker, and Chinese text with pinyin at the back. It is designed for parents reading with children, and for young learners of either language who want a simple, memorable story with a clear lesson.