Orphaned at a young age and taken under the care of a homeless and crippled old man named Crane-man, Tree-ear spends his days stealing moments to admire the village potters at work. He dreams of making beautiful creations like theirs some day. The most celebrated and admired potter, Min, begrudgingly allows Tree-ear to work for him. Min is cold, callous, and insulting towards Tree-ear and the work is back breaking and difficult. No matter the struggle, Tree-ear will not give up and is determined to prove to himself, Min, and the other potters that he is capable of the task. He takes on the important job of transporting Min’s greatest creation to the king in the hopes of obtaining a royal commission for Min. Tree-ear’s journey is full of obstacles but the true lesson is in his fortitude and determination. Despite losing all of Min’s pottery, but one single shard, along the journey, Tree-ear continues on and humbly presents it to the king. A heartwarming tale of a young boys’ courage in the face of hardship, A Single Shard demonstrates that belief in yourself and continued perseverance are always worth the outcome. A perfect story for any youth with goals and dreams.