The Five Chinese Brothers

 


Title- The Five Chinese Bothers 

Author/Retold- Claire Huchet Bishop & Kurt Wiese

Illustrated by N/A

Genre- Traditional Literature 

Grade level- Kindergarten- 3rd Grade


The story begins with a mother and five sons that look “exactly alike.” One brother had the power to swallow the whole sea. Another brother had an Iron Neck. The next brother could stretch his legs really far. Another Brother could not be burned and the last brother could hold his breath indefinitely. The first brother would always come back from his fishing trips with a rare fish and one of the young boys from the town asked if he could go with him the second time. The brother said you can come under one condition, that “you shall obey me promptly”. The boy agreed and the next day they went. The brother sucked up all the water from the sea and all the fish and treasures under the water could be seen. The brother started picking up fish, while the child started stuffing his pockets with treasure. The brother warned the child it was time to go, but the child ignored him. He could hold the sea back any longer and spat the sea back, loosing the child. The brother went back to town and was put in prison and sentenced to an execution. The brother asked if he could say goodbye to his mother before he was executed. Instead of the first brother coming back, the second came in his place but no one could tell. They tired to execute the brother but couldn’t. The judge decided to execute him a different way and again the son asked to say goodbye to his mother as the last brother did. This process happened three more times and every time, each brother used their ability to escape death. After the last brother was safe, the judge said we tried every way and you are alive, you must be innocent. Then all the brothers loved happily ever after. 

This book is applicable to students from kinder to third grade. This story teaches a good lesson that you are special and have abilities, no matter the way you look. I think that is very important in today’s age. I personally don’t know if I would have this book in my class, yes it has good lessons but I don’t know if schools or parents would agree with such violence.

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