or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
 
Express Checkout with PayPhrase
What's this? | Create PayPhrase
Sorry!
More Buying Choices
67 used & new from $2.06

Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
The Five Chinese Brothers (Paperstar)
 
 
Tell the Publisher!
I’d like to read this book on Kindle

Don’t have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here.
 
  

The Five Chinese Brothers (Paperstar) (Paperback)

~ (Author), (Illustrator) "ONCE upon a time there were Five Chinese Brothers and they all looked exactly alike..." (more)
Key Phrases: First Chinese Brother, Third Chinese Brother, Fourth Chinese Brother
4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (77 customer reviews)

Price: $5.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
  Special Offers Available
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

Want it delivered Friday, November 13? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details
40 new from $2.47 26 used from $2.06 1 collectible from $19.00

Formats

Amazon Price New from Used from
  Hardcover $10.87 $9.32 $5.95
  Paperback $5.99 $2.47 $2.06
  Unknown Binding -- -- $24.95

Frequently Bought Together

The Five Chinese Brothers (Paperstar) + Tikki Tikki Tembo + The Story about Ping (Reading Railroad Books)
Price For All Three: $16.93

Show availability and shipping details

  • This item: The Five Chinese Brothers (Paperstar) by Claire Huchet Bishop

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

  • Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

  • The Story about Ping (Reading Railroad Books) by Kurt Wiese

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details


Special Offers and Product Promotions

  • This item is eligible for our 4-for-3 promotion. Eligible products include select Books, Single Copy Magazines, and Home & Garden items. Buy any 4 eligible items and get the lowest-priced item free. Here's how (restrictions apply)
  • Over a hundred thousand items are eligible for our 4-for-3 promotion. How do I find more eligible items?


Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

The Story about Ping (Reading Railroad Books)

The Story about Ping (Reading Railroad Books)

by Kurt Wiese
4.2 out of 5 stars (88)  $3.99
The Story of Ferdinand (Reading Railroad Books)

The Story of Ferdinand (Reading Railroad Books)

by Munro Leaf
4.7 out of 5 stars (94)  $3.99
The Seven Chinese Brothers (Blue Ribbon Book)

The Seven Chinese Brothers (Blue Ribbon Book)

by Margaret Mahy
4.2 out of 5 stars (14)  $6.99
The Seven Chinese Sisters

The Seven Chinese Sisters

by Kathy Tucker
4.9 out of 5 stars (14)  $6.95
The Adventures of Spider: West African Folktales (BookFestival)

The Adventures of Spider: West African Folktales (BookFestival)

by Joyce Cooper Arkhurst
5.0 out of 5 stars (3)  $8.99
Explore similar items

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The beloved story of five brothers who use their special powers to rescue the First Brother from being unfairly put to death. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.


Product Description

The classic story about five clever brothers, each with a different extraordinary ability is "a dramatic retelling of an old Chinese tale." (The New York Public Library). " . . . when Bishop makes the tall brother stretch, the sea-swallower work, or the robust one hold his breath, young children will laugh and laugh."--New York Herald Tribune Books. Full color.

Product Details


More About the Authors

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
ONCE upon a time there were Five Chinese Brothers and they all looked exactly alike. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
First Chinese Brother, Third Chinese Brother, Fourth Chinese Brother
New!
Concordance | Text Stats
Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Search Inside This Book:


What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?


Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
 
(3)
(1)
(1)
(1)

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store

If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store. Learn more

 

Customer Reviews

77 Reviews
5 star:
 (52)
4 star:
 (7)
3 star:
 (4)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:
 (13)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.1 out of 5 stars (77 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
131 of 140 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars PC considerations aside, a memorable children's classic, June 22, 2002
By Lisa A. Adolf (Everett, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This charming book has taken a lot of heat in recent years for not being politically correct enough to suit modern sensibilites. The author and artist have been accused of non-PC conduct, the most famous charge being the representation of all Chinese as looking alike through out the book.

I remember reading this book as a young child back in the 60s and being entranced by its clever story of five look-alike brothers with supernatural powers who save their own from an unjust punishment. I've thought of this book many times over my 45 years, remembering it with a fondness and awe unmatched by many other books--children's or no, that I have read. I have only recently revisited this fondly remembered favorite, all too mindful of the criticisms launched against it, paying close attention to the text and art.

The book, originally written in 1938, deserves to be judged not by our modern sensibilities, but for where the world was at the time it was written. Keeping that in mind, the book becomes less the poster child for racism than a respectful retelling of an old Chinese folktale. Careful study of the artwork will reveal that aside from the identical brothers (and their resemblance to each other IS an unassailable plot point from the original folk story)
there is as much effort placed into creating depictions of peripheral characters as there generally is in any children's book. The pen and watercolor wash drawings are simplified as one would expect for the age group that is the target audience, but each person rendered is an individual in facial expression, hair style and dress. Complaining of the sameness of all Chinese depicted becomes mystifying--as aside from similar dress and skin tone used the charge proves to be specious. (And I don't hear anyone complaining the the "Where's Waldo" series was racist and again there, the resemblance of all people depicted is a plot devise to provide the puzzle).

If the criteria of our modern world is not met by a nearly 70 year old book, we are wasting too much time clucking over the artifacts of the past and not doing enough to improve racial unity in the real world. Chances are this charming tale won over many a young heart in is 64 years and possibly even compelled some of those young readers to explore Chinese culture and myth more closely.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Asian and not offended, January 22, 2003
By Jann (NY,NY) - See all my reviews
As a child this was one of my favorite tales. I am of asian descent and I was never offended by the images. I didn't find it scary, just fascinating. It was a tale that really let the imagination soar. 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. I feel bad for children whose parents feel the need to censor this from them. It is a fun, timeless story I plan to share with my children.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Fond memory, September 29, 1999
By A Customer
I was in first grade in 1974, it was the first time our class went to the library. The librarian discussed with us some books she had picked out and one was, The five chinese brothers. By the time she had finished describing the book I knew what book I wanted to check out. And when she gave the permission to look around, I ran for that book, and I read it, read it, and am getting to read it again 24 years later. I dont exactly know how, but I feel somehow that book helped me be..who I am, because I never forgot that memory.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous
It was a fabulous surprise that I found The Five Chinese Brothers for sale at Amazon.com. I wanted to purchase this book for my 25 year old son as it was one of his favorite books... Read more
Published 8 days ago by Thomas Groves

5.0 out of 5 stars Timeless Treasure
I loved this book as a child and still love it. That's why I keep buying additional copies to pass along at baby showers and such.
Published 21 days ago by Little Bird

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book
I remember this story from when I was in grade school. I thought it was a fun story then and I think the same thing now. I look forward to sharing it with my children.
Published 1 month ago by A. Davis

5.0 out of 5 stars Valuable lesson in life
I often attribute my decision to become a lawyer and subequent specialization in defending those charged with having committed crimes to having read this book as a youngster. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Mark S. Kaiserman

5.0 out of 5 stars I absolutely ADORE this book!
Our whole family (not just me!) absolutely adored this book when I was a kid, and we still love it today. What more is there to say than that?! :)
Published 6 months ago by G. Parks

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Childrens Book
This book is a classic and every child should have this story read to them. It should be in every classic story collection. Read more
Published 7 months ago by SHawk

5.0 out of 5 stars Memories
As a child I loved it and as a 50 year old woman I love it still. It was a Christmas gift from my husband that I will forever cherish.
Published 7 months ago by D. E. Dunn

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for ESL/EFL Classes
I read this book for my high school students, who are learning English as a second language, and they loved it. They did not perceive the book as racist. Read more
Published 8 months ago by ESL Teacher

1.0 out of 5 stars This book perpetuates racist images detrimental to all APIs
I was horribly offended when I came across this book at Pearl River Store in New York. The fact that this book is still in print and available to the public for purchase as... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Cynthia L. Okimoto

5.0 out of 5 stars tradition
This traditional Chinese story is now a tradition in our American family. It was one of my favorites as a child and is now one of my daughters' favorites. Read more
Published 10 months ago by IronTower

Only search this product's reviews



Customer Discussions

This product's forum
See all discussions...  
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
   




Product Information from the Amapedia Community

Beta (What's this?)


Look for Similar Items by Category


Look for Similar Items by Subject

 

Feedback

If you need help or have a question for Customer Service, contact us.
 Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
Is there any other feedback you would like to provide?

Your comments can help make our site better for everyone.


Your Recent History

 (What's this?)

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.