Two enchanted tales from old China retold by Gabrielle Wang
Ill. by David Allan. Christmas Press, 2017. ISBN 9780994528025
(Age: 6-8) A must have for the library. In the starry heavens two
young people fall in love, only to be parted. A lonely mistreated
girl finds herself at a ball in a dress made of silk . . .
Two beautiful, magical tales from China, The Weaver Girl and the
Cowherd and The Magic Fishbones enchantingly retold by
Gabrielle Wang and elegantly illustrated by David Allan.
The book contains two entertaining tales accompanied by beautiful
illustrations. The Weaver Girl and the Cow Herd, is about
two stars in the heavens that fall in love. The granddaughter of the
Heavenly Empress, Zhinu, the weaver girl, is responsible for
separating the two lovers. Niulng is sent to the land of mortals
where he finds himself in a farming family, having no memory of the
past. However he does feel a connection with the stars. Niulng's
loyal Ox is not ordinary and he finds himself guided by its wisdom
in search of a bride.
The Magic Fish Bones is set in Chin, an ancient country where
Ye Xian was a slave to her stepmother and stepsister after her
father dies. I hear voices drawing similarities to Cinderella.
However, this story stands alone on its own merit with a totally
different ending. Ye Xian has a fish with golden scales which she
loves and tends too. As the fish grows too big, she releases it into
a nearby pond. Each day Ye Xian calls the fish to the edge of the
pond and gives it treats. Her dreadful stepmother kills the fish,
but Ye Xian realises the bones are magic.
I can see these Chinese traditional tales fitting in beautifully
with units about Ancient Civilisations. They are presented in easy
to understand language - although the sentences are long and
descriptive. These tales will entertain children from six years old
and up. These stories will linger and would appeal to 6 - 8 years
although they are in picture book form. The sentences are long and
detailed. A must have for the library that will sit nicely on the
shelf alongside other books in the series.
Kathryn Schumacher