The Kitchen God

The Kitchen God wakes up to find out that the food on the stove is missing. The little girl who steals the food lies to her grandparents, but she has to confront the watchful eyes of the Kitchen God. Xiong reveals a style mixing paper-cutting and lithograph prints.

The Little Stone Lion

The nostalgic story about growing-up and leaving one's hometown is told through a little stone lion. With only 173 words, Xiong is the first writer who has produced a picture book, which looks like scenes from a movie.

The Peking Opera Cats: Wu Song Fights the Tiger

Based on a story from Outlaws of the Marshes, Xiong explores ego and friendship through a cat who plays the tiger in a Peking Opera performance. The cat is beaten by Wu Song on stage, but off stage, he is on good terms with the performer who plays Wu Song. Various traditional elements, including opera and facial make-up, are presented in an interesting way.

The Master Vajra

Master Vajra has the magical powers to turn plants, animals and natural scenes into his students. He starts his classes with a discussion on the purpose of learning. Xiong says he hopes the readers will learn to appreciate themselves better after reading the book and to encourage them to love their individualism.

The Plum Rain Fairy

Centering on a fairy who transforms from the so-called Plum Rain, a name for rainy season in China, Xiong tells the story of how the wet character dries himself daily to illustrate how one should live life one day at a time. Xiong's illustrations are mostly in black and white strokes.

(China Daily 08/14/2012 page19)