Customer Reviews

Toad Is the Uncle of Heaven

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It was a legend unlike any other legends and had been passes down by generations. Every time that the people received rain, they remember the story about the toad which had said to be the uncle of heaven. A little ugly toad and dare to become uncle of anyone even the heaven ? How is this happened ? It was a long time ago and there is a drought in the land. The field become dry, every trees died, the animals had nothing to eat or drink for there is not a shingle drop of water. For days, the animals groan and complain but no one would do anything. This is when Toad step in and make up his mind to go to heaven and asked heaven the reason why... enough with me telling how it ended. Read this wonderful book and find out. You won't regret it and every time you see rain, you will know how it all happen.

I loved this story growing up, having heard it in a few different versions from my mom or others, and is only reason why this review isn't one-starred. When I saw this book at the library, naturally I got excited and opened it. The first thing I noticed were the terrible illustrations. It was basically a character on an almost blank sheet with no background. It was ugly, to put it plainly. I felt like I was reading some 5th grader's collage assignment that was carelessly done in 5 minutes. An adventure story about talking animals confronting Heaven's injustice and THIS is what they come up with for the illustrations? Seriously?
My other issue with the story is that it is told differently, weakly. Differences are to be expected and even welcomed in the retellings of a classic story, but not if they don't make sense. Frog's companions are supposed to have definite strengths and weaknesses that counter everything Heaven throws at them. In this version of the story, the animals have no developed strengths nor weaknesses so that the final confrontation has no wittiness about it. No rhyme no reason, the animals just kinda fight and suddenly: The End. The writing style is very dry. -__-
This book butchered everything I like about this story.

My children love this book! They are never tired of the story. Great illustrations. The only suggestion is that it could be more sturdy. I brought several copies for my nieces and nephews. A great book!