Caravan to America: Living Arts of the Silk Road

Cellist Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Project (which he started ""to share and explore the rich cultural traditions of the peoples of the Silk Road,"" according to the foreword) marks the inspiration for a book for young readers, Caravan to America: Living Arts of the Silk Road by John Major and Betty Belanus. The authors profile eight people in the U.S. who actively practice these traditional arts, including Yeshi Dorjee, a Tibetan monk living near Los Angeles, who creates Buddhist thangka paintings; Iranian-American chef Najmieh Batmanglij; and Greek-American oud, or lute, maker Peter Kyvelos. Photos and traditional prints illustrate the offering.