Children Book Analysis

                                                Swanson, Kayla

                                HDEV 25 March 15^th, 2015

The Five Chinese Brothers / By Claire Huchet Bishop

Illustrated by: Kurt Wiese                                                                     

Published in 1938 by Coward-McCann

Summary

The five Chinese Brothers are identical brothers who live with their mother in a little house

by the sea. They all have special talents, the first brother could swallow the sea, the second brother had an iron neck, the third brother could stretch his legs very far, the forth brother could not be burned, and the firth Chinese brother could hold his breath indefinitely.

The first brother would go fishing every morning, and one day a little boy asked to go with him, the first Chinese brother said yes under one condition, “You shall obey me promptly.” The boy agreed and went with the first brother to go fishing , the first brother swallowed the sea and the boy went to collect treasures, when the brother could not hold the sea any more he told the boy to come back but he did not listen,  he beckoned and beckoned but the boy would not come back. Then the sea burst out of his mouth and back into the sea bed, and the first brother was forced to return without the boy, he was arrested and sent to prison. 

He was sentenced to execution, and so he then asked the judge if he could say goodbye to his mother, the judge said “It is only fair.” Then when the brother went home and the second Chinese brother came back in his place. Then he was ready to be executed, but when the executioner struck, it did not go through because the second Chinese brother’s neck was made of steel. 

Then he was sentenced to be drowned, he then asked to go home and say goodbye to his mother, the judge agreed, “It is only fair” so the second brother went home and the third brother took his place, and when they threw him in the sea he stretched his legs and stood tall in the sea. Astonished and angry the people decided it was time to burn him. 

So the brother asked the judge to go say goodbye to his mother, after being allowed he went home, and the forth brother took his place, however he could not be burned, therefor when the people made a large fire to burn him he was warm and content, after getting even more angry they decided to suffocate him.

The forth Chinese brother asked the judge, “Your Honor, will you allow me to go and bid my mother good-bye?” The judge replied, “It is only fair.” So the forth brother went home and the fifth brother took his place, and when they tried to suffocate him he held his breath until they brought him out. They were all annoyed and astonished so they finally decide because he could not be killed they would let him go and drop all charges made against him. “And the Five Chinese Brothers and their mother all lived together happily for many years.”

Analysis

This book seems to be promoting ethnic stereotypes about the Chinese, as well as promoting lying, and not taking consequence for actions. I see very little good in this book, there is the death of a child and also discusses capital punishment, four attempts at execution. I did not see any educational views on this book, or cultural accuracy. The Chinese brothers were portrayed as having special abilities, and cheating to get out of their punishment. I would not want this book in my classroom, although it was entertaining and an easy read, it was not realistic and could potentially teach children it is okay to cheat. 

In evaluating children’s literature #4, the illustrations are authentic and non-stereotyped. I think the characters all looked the same, they appeared stereotyped, with slanted eyes and pointed Chinese hats.

I think the judge held the power and the town’s people, there was no trial and no sign of question, the judge decided the first Chinese brother was a murderer and should be punished for it.

·         What are the consequences of certain behaviors? What behaviors or traits are rewarded, and how? What behaviors are punished, and how?

The Chinese brothers were punished very harshly, they were sentenced to die in front of the whole town, and as the brothers would not die and the towns people got angry they made the demanded a harder punishment, when nothing was working they let him go.

·         Whose voices are heard? Whose are missing?

I felt like the brother never got a say in the very beginning, however I know it is a children’s book, and I am sure there are many details not mentioned in the story.

From 10 quick ways to analyze children’s books, #6, I felt like the child in the story was portrayed as disobedient, he did not keep to his word when he said he would come when the brother called him.

Reading the reviews of this book, I found that it was a childhood favorite for many people, as it was mine, I loved this story. I grew up listening to my grandpa read it to us. It was not until I re-opened the book and saw just how much was wrong with it. The book has been re written multiple times with complaints about all the Chinese men looking the same and wearing typical clothing. However, that created many complaints as well, with sayings like, “People should be racially sensitive but not paranoid. In this era of cultural diversity, we should be able to see the humor. The caricatures are innocent not disrespectful.” (Amazon reviews http://www.amazon.com/The-Five-Chinese-Brothers-Paperstar/dp/0698113578 ) Which I thought was very interesting.