Gulangyu: The Earth Story

By Happy Diamond Music

Join our heroine, Xiao Rui, and her friends Na Na the parrot and Henry the baby dragon on a magical, musical adventure to learn about conservation and save the planet. The book tells the story of how children can make a difference in the quest to save the planet through reducing, reusing, and recycling.

When Xiao Rui discovers that her home, Gulangyu (an island off the coast of southeastern China and a UNESCO Heritage Site) is in danger from a gigantic wave that has been caused by global climate change, she is tasked by Riyanshi, the Earth Fairy to undertake an epic journey to stop the wave and learn how she and other children can stop global warming from destroying the planet.

In the Gulangyu story, Xiao Rui and her companions travel to the Amazon rainforest, icebergs in Greenland, solar farms floating in the lake that used to be a coal mine, and landfills where scientists perform research where they see the effects of climate change up-close and personal.

Gulangyu is a great opportunity for parents and teachers to start a conversation with even their youngest learners about their own carbon footprint and how they can impact stopping climate change. Conservation has never been as important as it is now, so help kids understand how they can start saving the planet.

Shirley is a versatile and award-winning composer, songwriter, children's book author and musician. She founded Happy Diamond Music Studio in 2011.

Shirley started piano lessons at the age of 4 and won numerous awards in England, Asia, and the USA. She went on to study orchestration, film scoring and music production with Emmy and Grammy Award Winners at UCLA. She now writes a music column for an online publication and is also a contributor for Africa Geographic. All scripts, music, and lyric produced by Happy Diamond are created by Shirley.

Shirley is an environmentalist. She hopes her music and stories can help to educate young children about the importance of conservation.

Shirley is also an accomplished bassist. Her all-girl band So What's first single "War Monkey" topped #1 on the Hong Kong Indie Music Chart. She performed her own song "Under the Blue Sky" on Chinese Central Television. In Nov 2008, Shirley became the first female bassist to perform at the Chinese National Indoor Olympic Stadium

Shirley's song “Hope” won 2nd runner-up at the CASH songwriting competition. She performed her symphonic work “Happy Diamond” with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. In November 2011, Shirley was one of the five finalists for the "Golden Sail Music Awards" - "Serious Music Category". In 2012, Shirley's composition "Voor Robert" won the best "Bandstand" music for a composition competition in London, England. In 2014 and 2015, her apps “Kakamega: The Rainforest Story” and “Migalolo: The Ocean Musical” reached #11 and #4 worldwide on the iOS book chart. In 2017, "Miniwalla: The Forest Story" was nominated for Best App Store listing in Germany at the Growth Awards. In 2019, Shirley's "Now or Never" theme song won the Silver Medal at the Global Music Awards.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Happy Diamond Music
• Release date: Jan 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9781792320927

Happy Diamond Music

Shirley is a versatile and award-winning composer, songwriter, children's book author and musician. She founded Happy Diamond Music Studio in 2011. Shirley started piano lessons at the age of 4 and won numerous awards in England, Asia, and the USA. She went on to study orchestration, film scoring and music production with Emmy and Grammy Award Winners at UCLA. She now writes a music column for an online publication and is also a contributor for Africa Geographic. All scripts, music and lyric produced by Happy Diamond are created by Shirley. Shirley is an environmentalist. She hopes her music and stories can help to educate young children about the importance of conservation. Shirley is also an accomplished bassist. Her all-girl band So What's first single "War Monkey" topped #1 on the Hong Kong Indie Music Chart. She performed her own song "Under the Blue Sky" on Chinese Central Television. In Nov 2008, Shirley became the first female bassist to perform at the Chinese National Indoor Olympic Stadium Shirley's song “Hope” won 2nd runner-up at the CASH songwriting competition. She performed her symphonic work “Happy Diamond” with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. In November 2011, Shirley was one of the five finalists for the "Golden Sail Music Awards" - "Serious Music Category". In 2012, Shirley's composition "Voor Robert" won the best "Bandstand" music for a composition competition in London, England. In 2014 and 2015, her apps “Kakamega: The Rainforest Story” and “Migalolo: The Ocean Musical” reached #11 and #4 worldwide on the iOS book chart. In 2017, "Miniwalla: The Forest Story" was nominated for Best App Store listing in Germany at the Growth Awards. In 2019, Shirley's "Now or Never" theme song won the Silver Medal at the Global Music Awards.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Gulangyu and Xiao Rui

Human activities are changing our planet. The burning of fossil fuels, like coal and oil, has caused the world’s temperature to rise, and the cutting down of trees is only making the situation worse. But not all places on the planet are the same. Some, thankfully, are more eco-friendly than others.

Gulangyu is one such place.

Gulangyu is a pedestrian-only island off the coast of Xiamen in the Fujian Province in south-eastern China. It is a lovely island surrounded by the blue waters of the bay. There are no cars or motorcycles anywhere to be found, only happy residents who walk or use bicycles to get around the island. The place is decked in a carpet of natural greenery, with lush flowers swinging in the breeze. Indeed, in a world where most cities are choked with smog and pollution, Gulangyu gleams like a gem, like something to be cherished. It is a place where anyone would love to live.

Our hero, Xiao Rui, is lucky enough to live in Gulangyu. She is a cheerful eight-year-old girl who loves her island deeply, but she’s about to leave it to go on a very important adventure.

* * *

The early morning sunshine lights up the tidy room where Xiao Rui sleeps peacefully. The walls are covered in beautiful drawings of animals, trees, sea waves, and musical instruments – all of the things that Xiao Rui loves.

Na Na, the parrot, flies in through the open window, looking visibly upset. He is not just a normal bird, but a multicolored and multilingual parrot who can speak in several languages! He lands on Xiao Rui’s pillow and jumps up and down to wake her.

Xiao Rui, wake up! Xiao Rui, wake up!

The girl stirs from sleep. Aww, Na Na. What’s wrong? Why are you being so noisy?

Na Na flaps his wings in agitation. "The Earth is angry! La planète est en colère! Enojado!"

Xiao Rui yawns as Na Na hops around some more. What do you mean the Earth is angry? she asks, fully awake now.

There are high tides everywhere, the temperatures keep rising, and the forests are crying out for help! says Na Na. Look at that wave outside your window!

Xiao Rui goes to her window and gasps. A menacing huge wave is building up far away at the horizon. Oh no! What’s going on? she cries out in alarm.

Just then, the sound of tinkling chimes fills the air, and both Xiao Rui and Na Na turn to look in astonishment. Hovering in the air near the foot of the bed is a beautiful fairy! Her delicate wings glimmer in the sunshine, flower blossoms adorn her long hair, and her tiny body glows like glitter.

Xiao Rui cannot believe her eyes. Whoa! Who are you?

The fairy laughs like bells jingling in the breeze as Xiao Rui and Na Na stare at her in amazement. I am Riyanshi, the Earth Fairy, she says with a warm smile. I have come to ask you to go on a very important quest, Xiao Rui.

Wow, you know my name! And what do you mean... a quest?

You see, your friend Na Na is right, the fairy says. The world is in danger because of climate change. That wave you saw is a sign, a cry for help from the Earth. You must help fix it.

Danger? Cry for help? These words scare Xiao Rui. Na Na flies and lands on her shoulder, screeching, It is! See, I told you so!

Danger? Cry for