In a small garden near the great city of Beijing, five peas rest patiently in the same shell. As the pears grow, so do their dreams. One pea longs to fly to the sun and another to the moon. Two more hope to dine with the emperor. But it is the smallest pea whose journey transforms the life of a mother and daughter. Exquisite paintings on rice paper and an eloquent retelling bring together Eastern and Western traditions and lend a new meaning to a familiar story.