Toad Is the Uncle of Heaven: A Vietnamese Folktale [Paperback]

Jeanne M. Lee (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up

Toad Is the Uncle of Heaven

A Vietnamese Folk Tale

An NCSS-CBC Notable Book in the Field of Social Studies

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

According to PW , "Arresting paintings in lavish colors dramatize the story," a graceful retelling of the courageous Toad's travel beyond the skies to beg rain from the King of Heaven. Ages 4-7.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 4 Realizing that the drought will soon destroy all life on Earth, Toad journeys to the Emperor of Heaven to ask for rain. On his way, he is joined by Bees, Rooster and Tiger. Confronting an unconcerned emperor, Toad finally makes his request known, with the help of his companions. The Emperor of Heaven remedies the drought with rain, calling Toad "Uncle," a title of great respect and affection in Vietnam. The illustrations differ from Lee's previous titles. Instead of subtle pastels and subdued motion, she employs pure, vibrant colors to support the energetic yet stylized actions of her characters: Rooster's feathers flame, and the Emperor sits on a golden throne in a hall of royal purple. A longer, more intense (although also more violent) version of this tale can be found in Vo-Dinh's The Toad Is the Emperor's Uncle: Animal Folktales of Viet Nam (Doubleday, 1970; o.p.). Lee's version, with its arresting illustrations and striking colors, is suitable for telling aloud to primary grade children. A valuable purchase for an existing collection of world folk tales. Janice M. Del Negro, Chicago Public Library
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); 1st Owlet Ed edition (September 15, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805011471
• ISBN-13: 978-0805011470
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 7.8 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,148,601 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #11 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Literature > Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths > Asian
  • #62 in Books > Children's Books > Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths > Asian

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A distinguishing book, September 13, 2000

By 

"suongngocn" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Toad Is the Uncle of Heaven: A Vietnamese Folktale (Paperback)

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.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A great story - but this book falls flat, February 21, 2011

By 

JN (NYC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Toad Is the Uncle of Heaven: A Vietnamese Folktale (Paperback)

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.