The Man Who Tricked a Ghost [Paperback]

Laurence Yep (Author), Isadore Seltzer (Illustrator)

Book Description

A lively Chinese folktale finds the brave Sung on a moonlit walk, encountering a scary ghost that he tricks into revealing its secret weakness. Reprint. AB. K. SLJ. H.

Editorial Reviews

From Kirkus Reviews

Sung is a man so brave that he thinks nothing of walking home at night, despite his friend's warning. Accosted by a ghost (none of your flimsy European wraiths--this huge, solid-looking warrior has a fiercely craggy visage and ``antique armor made of rhinoceros hide with metal scales''), Sung boldly claims to be a ghost, too. Undaunted by the ghost's mission--to scare or kill the overcourageous Sung, whom he doesn't recognize--Sung tricks him at every turn, even getting the ghost to confide that ``once we are spat upon we cannot change our shape''--a useful bit of information that in the end not only saves Sung but enriches him. Yep's simple, lively narrative perfectly suits an entertaining trickster tale that, he notes, dates in written form to the third century; Seltzer matches its energy and humor in vibrant, freely rendered paintings that will enthrall listeners as much as the spooky, funny story. A winner. (Folklore/Picture book. 5-10) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

American Bookseller Pick of the Lists. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Troll Communications Llc (September 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0816730318
• ISBN-13: 978-0816730315
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,975,809 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Laurence Yep has been fascinated with tales of sibling rivalry from the day he was born. His older brother, Tom, chose his name Laurence - after a saint who died a particularly gruesome death. Laurence has been trying to get even ever since. Laurence Yep now lives in Pacific Grove, California, with his wife and is one of children's literature's most respected authors. His award-winning titles include Newbery Honor Books Dragonwings and Dragon's Gate.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A highly enjoyable, very witty book., December 28, 2005

By 

D. Goodpasture (USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Man Who Tricked a Ghost (Library Binding)

The illustrations are fantastic and the story is clever. It's the retelling of a 3rd century ghost story said to have been written by one of China's emperors. The hero, Sung, boasts of being afraid of nothing, including ghosts. Walking home alone down a dark road he encounters a ghost who's on his way to get some fool named Sung who doesn't believe in ghosts. Sung must keep him at bay while devising a way to trick him into submission.