| 
  • If you are citizen of an European Union member nation, you may not use this service unless you are at least 16 years old.

  • You already know Dokkio is an AI-powered assistant to organize & manage your digital files & messages. Very soon, Dokkio will support Outlook as well as One Drive. Check it out today!

View
 

FrontPage

This version was saved 13 years, 4 months ago View current version     Page history
Saved by Allyson Way
on November 30, 2010 at 5:45:18 pm
 

Book Review: The Five Chinese Brothers

written by Claire Huchet Bishop and Illustrated by Kurt Wiese 

 

 

 

Plot Summary: 
    This children's story was one of my all time favorite stories growing up. I would classify this story in the fantasy children's book genre because of the different talent-aspects in the story. It's a story of five Chinese brothers who all look identical and all obtain a special talent.  The first brother could swallow the sea, the second had an iron neck, the third could stretch his legs, the fourth could not be burned, and the fifth could hold his breath indefinitely.  All of these talents become very important once the first brother is summoned to his  death.  He is summoned to the death of being beheaded, so he was sent home to bid his mother goodbye, his second brother returned.  When the executioner swung his sword to behead the second brother it did absolutely no damage for he has an iron neck.  He is then summoned to a death of drowning.  He is sent home to bid his mother good bye, and the third brother returns.  When the third brother is thrown into the sea he stretches his legs until his feet hit the bottom and he does not drown.  
     At this point the towns people are furious and summon him to a death of being burned alive.  The brother is sent home to bid his mother goodbye, the fourth brother returns.  He is tied to stakes and set on fire.  He shows no reaction and actually finds it quite pleasant, so they take him down.  He is then finally summoned to a death of being smothered.  He is sent home to bid his mother goodbye once more, and the fifth brother returns.  The executioner puts the brother into a large black oven that is stuffed with whipped cream and wait all night to see to it that he is finally put to rest.  The next morning the fifth brother is taken out unharmed.  After his fifth survival, the towns people now believe that he is innocent and he is released.  
     The reason I suggest that this children's book belongs in the fantasy genre is because a normal human could not obtain these certain talents, and that it is simply make believe. 
     

          



Comments (0)

You don't have permission to comment on this page.