 |
||||||
| Home >> Book Reviews >> The Five Chinese Brothers (Paperstar) | ||||||
 |
The Five Chinese Brothers (Paperstar) Review
User Submitted The Five Chinese Brothers (Paperstar) ReviewsDecember 1, 2008 Ya gotta love a childrens book about execution! So...I remember this book from elementary school. I checked it out from the Library multiple times as a kid. I loved the story and the illistrations. I also liked the look and feel of the book. It was long and skinny and bright yellow, the picture was imposed directly onto the front as opposed to having a dust jacket. This one, a bit newer has the same shape, but now dawns a nice dust jacket. It's an ancient Chinese proverb that was translated into a childrens book and has been around since the early 1900's. The proverb it much older of course. Anyway, some people may find this story morbid, I suppose, which is why I only gave it 4 stars, but I LOVE this book and it does end with a great moral. It brought back many memmories of my childhood and I'm glad to now have it as part of my own collection. September 20, 2008 It's just a story, isn't it? There is something about the magical that deeply appeals to children. That's why fairy tales are so beloved by them. Even folk tales, a more realistic spin-off of fairy tales, are also favorites of children. No exception is "The Five Chinese Brothers," written by Claire Hucket Bishop and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. This 1938 publication is still in print, testifying to its popularity. The call of political incorrectness just does not apply here. These five brothers are identical, not because all Chinese people look alike, but because they are quintuplets. Does the story say so? No, but it only figures... These five brothers--each has a unique gift, each strange, but nevertheless, their gifts are what this story is about. The first brother can swallow the sea, the second has an iron neck, the third can stretch his legs indefinitely, the fourth cannot be burned, and the fifth can hold his breath indefinitely. So the first takes a child fishing and uses his sea-holding ability so that the child can pick seashells and the like normally hidden under the water. Sad, but the little boy is headstrong and won't return to shore, the brother lets out the sea, and the boy disappears. The brother is going to be executed by axe. He asks to go say goodbye to his mother and switches with his second brother whose neck cannot be hurt. And so on with each brother who is to be punished by death. Finally, after the fifth try, the judge sets him free. He returns home and lives happily with his brothers and mother. Children love this book because it strikes their fancy: wild abilities, escape from punishment, astonishment of the town folk, and freedom. I can see that. September 18, 2008 Loved this as a kid, BUT... ...your kids may never crawl out from under your covers. When I re-read this a while back, I found the violence (when the brothers use their special powers to avoid drowning, burning, chopping a head off, etc.,) well, a little too horrifying to show to my Chinese-American children. Just too much...I think they'd still be sleeping in my bed if I showed this to them. After purchasing with good intentions, I returned it. There was no one I'd give it to for the same reasons. July 18, 2008 I love this book I remember this book from when I was a child and I purchased it for my 4 year old's birthday. She wanted it read again and again and loved telling everyone else about it. June 3, 2008 Great book of the times; beware liberal ideology who insist racism Keep in mind, this is an old Chinese tale, not somehow a racist American interpretation of Chinese culture like some reviewers here try to make it out to be. I read this book in the 1980s when I was just a few years old. It was my favorite book. It was simple, easily readable, the pictures were funny, etc. I not once viewed the book as racist, or ethocentric, or God knows any other names liberal nutso's put on this book. When I was 2 years old.. 3 years old... 4?... I wasn't asking "Mommy, why are their faces yellow? Is this some sort of Communist plot at taking American hatred of the Chinese to a new level?" Sorry, I was reading the book as it was intended to be read... a simple picture book to entertain. As it stands, this book is a classic, and I'll be buying it again. And you liberals out there... lighten up. It's too bad you're so guilt-ridden at living in a prosperous country that you're going to punish other Americans for your guilt. I, fortunately, don't have such mindless guilt. May God have mercy on your souls. March 6, 2008 I remember reading this as a child I hope it's not politically incorrect to love this book. It is a story about five brothers, each with an unusual talent or ability. February 23, 2008 A wonderful story but best for older children I loved this story as a child and after reading the reviews I purchased it thinking that I would add it to my Nursery School library. Unfortunately I forgot that it discusses execution which is not appropiate for children under 7 years of age. February 16, 2008 great short story Avoid the nonsensical reviews written by advocates of censorship and control who try to pervert children's imagination with a sort of patriarchial system that is devoid of all fondness for youth. This is a great short story that I still recall. October 27, 2007 Excellent Book i loveed this book growing up. and i think that all children should read this book!!!!!!!!!!!! September 28, 2007 fun book; not for every child 1) I loved this book when I was a child. I recommend it because it has the ability to communicate a slice of Chinese culture in a fun way. 2) After reading the reviews posted by others, I agree the intense themes should only be exposed to kids who can absorb them. This "intensity", however, is no different from a Grimms Fairy Tale. 3) As for those offended, I am unhappy this was your experience. However, as I understand it, this story is based on a Chinese story, not some Eurocentric plot to minimize Asians. Complaining about the "ethnicity" would be similar to accusing Asian bookmakers of Caucasian slurs for books featuring rustic cowboys, or "Mean White Stepmothers". 4) I do not deny the discomfort of those who were mocked due to race. Your injustice, however, was only exposed by the reading of a book with Asian elements; not created from it. I suggest this book, as any book of Asian lore, will always pose the risk of exposing latent bigotry and be used as an insult. (i.e. Nuwa, ShanHaiJing narratives, etc.) This does not mean our children (or ourselves) should not be exposed to such stories; but rather parents have a responsibility in affirming other persons intrinsic value. 5) Personally, I distinctly (and warmly) remember, after reading it, having the feeling that China was interesting and/or had interesting stories to tell. It fed my general interests in the Chinese culture. It never needed to require the interpretation that Asians were somehow beneath me. That interpretation has to come from elsewhere, and THAT is the problem. For more The Five Chinese Brothers (Paperstar) reviews click here.
|
|||||
 |
|
|
||||
| Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Advertising | Contact Us | ||||||
| ©2005 Book Savers, All rights reserved. | ||||||
and Preschoolers