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A Grain of Rice
When a humble farmer named Pong Lo asks for the hand of the Emperor's beautiful daughter, the Emperor is enraged. Who ever heard of a peasant marrying a princess? But Pong Lo is wiser than the Emperor knows. And when he concocts a potion that saves the Princess's life, the Emperor gladly offers him any reward he chooses--except the Princess.
Pong Lo makes a surprising request. He asks for a single grain of rice, doubled every day for one hundred days. The baffled Emperor obliges--only to discover that if you're as clever as Pong Lo, you can turn a single grain of rice into all the wealth and happiness in the world!
Pong Lo makes a surprising request. He asks for a single grain of rice, doubled every day for one hundred days. The baffled Emperor obliges--only to discover that if you're as clever as Pong Lo, you can turn a single grain of rice into all the wealth and happiness in the world!
112 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1986
27 people are currently reading
1625 people want to read
About the author
Helena Clare Pittman
22 books8 followersHelena Clare Pittman has been an artist since childhood. She majored in art in Junior High and High School, and began painting seriously at the age of fourteen.
She majored in Painting at Pratt Institute, in Brooklyn, New York, and was awarded her Bachelors of Fine Art degree there. She took her Masters of Arts at Antioch, in Painting, Writing and Education.
Helena has taught Color, Illustration and Drawing at The Parsons School of Design; Design, Drawing and Life Drawing at The State University of New York at Farmingdale; Writing and Classroom Methods at The City University of New York, Queens College School of Graduate Education; and Painting, Drawing and Illustration at The Nassau County Museum of Art. She has also taught both children and adults at the Art League of Long Island, as well as worked as an Author/Illustrator in Residence in many public and private schools.
Helena has published 17 books for children, most notably "A Grain of Rice" and "The Gift of the Willows."
She majored in Painting at Pratt Institute, in Brooklyn, New York, and was awarded her Bachelors of Fine Art degree there. She took her Masters of Arts at Antioch, in Painting, Writing and Education.
Helena has taught Color, Illustration and Drawing at The Parsons School of Design; Design, Drawing and Life Drawing at The State University of New York at Farmingdale; Writing and Classroom Methods at The City University of New York, Queens College School of Graduate Education; and Painting, Drawing and Illustration at The Nassau County Museum of Art. She has also taught both children and adults at the Art League of Long Island, as well as worked as an Author/Illustrator in Residence in many public and private schools.
Helena has published 17 books for children, most notably "A Grain of Rice" and "The Gift of the Willows."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
October 26, 2009
I’ve read two other versions of this mathematical folk tale, and I think I enjoyed both of those stories more than this one. They took place in India and the motive for requesting the grain of rice was to better the condition of the people of the land. The illustrations were colorful and appealing. These two books are One Grain Of Rice A Mathematical Folktale by Demi and The Rajah's Rice A Mathematical Folktale from India by David Barry.They each have the subtitle: A Mathematical Folktale.
I enjoyed this book too. It takes place in fifteenth century China. I love most how doubling the grains of rice every day leads to such a large number of grains of rice in not that many days. I appreciated the work ethic of Pong Lo, and how he worked hard and worked his way up. The cover illustration is the only one in color. The black and white and gray illustrations are okay; I really liked a few of them.
What I didn’t like as much here as in the other two books was the motive. This is more of a traditional fairy tale. The young man wants the princess for a wife and it quickly becomes obvious that she feels the same way about him. So the longed for reward is the princess for himself; there’s no altruism here as in the other books. I enjoyed the altruism part of the other books, especially in the Barry book; it was much more emotionally touching.
Still, it was an enjoyable story and the math is sensational.
Unfortunately, there is no chart showing the rice accumulating as there is in the other two books. Those charts were fun, especially the one in Demi’s book.
I enjoyed this book too. It takes place in fifteenth century China. I love most how doubling the grains of rice every day leads to such a large number of grains of rice in not that many days. I appreciated the work ethic of Pong Lo, and how he worked hard and worked his way up. The cover illustration is the only one in color. The black and white and gray illustrations are okay; I really liked a few of them.
What I didn’t like as much here as in the other two books was the motive. This is more of a traditional fairy tale. The young man wants the princess for a wife and it quickly becomes obvious that she feels the same way about him. So the longed for reward is the princess for himself; there’s no altruism here as in the other books. I enjoyed the altruism part of the other books, especially in the Barry book; it was much more emotionally touching.
Still, it was an enjoyable story and the math is sensational.
Unfortunately, there is no chart showing the rice accumulating as there is in the other two books. Those charts were fun, especially the one in Demi’s book.
September 25, 2025
This book is amazingly written! And has a good lesson in it. I really enjoyed the ending.
February 5, 2020
When Pong Lo - the son of a humble farmer - appears before the Emperor of China to ask for Princess Chang Wu's hand in marriage, the mighty ruler is outraged. But his gentle daughter convinces her father to offer the young man a job in the storeroom, and soon Pong Lo is making himself useful in ways both large and small. Using an old family recipe to cure Chang Wu, when she becomes ill, Pong Lo is offered a reward by the Emperor, and - the hand of the Princess still being refused him - he asks for one hundred days of rice. On the first day he shall receive one grain of rice, on the second day, two grains, with the amount doubling on each successive day. Soon the emperor begins to wonder if there is enough rice in the world to fulfill his side of the bargain!
After reading and enjoying Demi's One Grain of Rice , which retells a traditional Indian folktale with a similar story (and mathematical theme), I was excited to discover that there were other variants out there. Sadly, it turns out that this is not actually a Chinese folktale, or, if it is, Pittman was unaware of it. Described as "an original story set in fifteenth century China" on the dust-jacket, A Grain of Rice appears to have been the author's own reinvention of the Indian tale (the stories are simply too similar for it to have been a coincidence), transplanted to China.
Although a fairly engaging story in its own right, Pittman's narrative lacks the moral strength of the Indian tale, in which the rice is won for the hungry people. Here it is used as a stratagem to win a bride. Still, this was an entertaining tale, and the black and white illustrations - they looked to be done in pencil - were quite pleasant. All in all, a winsome little fairy-tale, though not quite what I was expecting.
After reading and enjoying Demi's One Grain of Rice , which retells a traditional Indian folktale with a similar story (and mathematical theme), I was excited to discover that there were other variants out there. Sadly, it turns out that this is not actually a Chinese folktale, or, if it is, Pittman was unaware of it. Described as "an original story set in fifteenth century China" on the dust-jacket, A Grain of Rice appears to have been the author's own reinvention of the Indian tale (the stories are simply too similar for it to have been a coincidence), transplanted to China.
Although a fairly engaging story in its own right, Pittman's narrative lacks the moral strength of the Indian tale, in which the rice is won for the hungry people. Here it is used as a stratagem to win a bride. Still, this was an entertaining tale, and the black and white illustrations - they looked to be done in pencil - were quite pleasant. All in all, a winsome little fairy-tale, though not quite what I was expecting.
June 8, 2020
I remember liking this when I read it in elementary school, and the story still holds up as a folktale about someone who uses his brain to get what he wants. I didn't love the afterword framing it as exclusively a story about math, though - STEM fields are absolutely important, but that would have turned me away from the book as a kid and sort of rubs me the wrong way now in terms of reframing a folk narrative in a way it wasn't necessarily intended.
March 4, 2020
A Grain of Rice is a really fun family book. It is also fairly short so it can be read in one sitting.
April 1, 2011
Excellent!
This book is such a simple variation on the old grains on a chessboard example of exponential growth. The story is charming, but not exceptional. It is the almost familiar story of a peasant who wishes to marry the princess and uses his brain to achieve his goal.
I'd recommend it to anyone with bright young children or grandchildren to read it to. And you are bound to enjoy it yourself too.
This book is such a simple variation on the old grains on a chessboard example of exponential growth. The story is charming, but not exceptional. It is the almost familiar story of a peasant who wishes to marry the princess and uses his brain to achieve his goal.
I'd recommend it to anyone with bright young children or grandchildren to read it to. And you are bound to enjoy it yourself too.
December 10, 2020
Such a fun story! Charlie especially got into it and wanted Pong Lo (the clever farmer) to succeed, and Beatrice had me read the entire math explanation at the end. 🤦♀️😂 Read for Sonlight Kindergarten curriculum.
January 28, 2018
I had read this years ago but bought it again for my granddaughters. I had forgotten how clever this story is about clever Long Po!
March 22, 2018
My students loved this story. Myself? Likewise; 100%
August 22, 2018
A wonderful retelling of the story of Pong Lo, a poor farmer who wanted to marry the Emperors's daughter, and how he did, using exponential math and a single grain of rice. A great way to introduce kids to the power of numbers - pun intended.
June 9, 2020
Beautiful illustrations! A delightful short little book. Love the incorporation of math into a clever story. The afterward was a great explanation of exponents.
December 6, 2024
Good lesson! *homeschool read!
March 31, 2020
Quick and fun read with my kids.
January 19, 2022
My five year old was fascinated by this story! She loved the story of Pong Lo and it was a great opportunity to teach both the math and about hard work paying off!
June 30, 2021
7 out of 10
A Grain of Rice is about a character named Pong Lo, who is in love with a princess. Pong Lo asks to marry the princess, but the king refuses to give him her hand in marriage. Then, the princess gets sick, so Pong Lo uses a family remedy to cure the princess of her illness. The king offers to grant Pong Lo a wish for saving the princess's life. Pong Lo asks for one grain of rice, and he asks the king to double the rice every day for the next one hundred days. His wish is granted, and he becomes one of the richest men in the kingdom.
This book was very entertaining. I loved the illustrations and the book has a great message. This is a nice rendition of a classic fairytale. A Grain of Rice would be a great read for children. It is pretty short, but still, it is a very entertaining book.
A Grain of Rice is about a character named Pong Lo, who is in love with a princess. Pong Lo asks to marry the princess, but the king refuses to give him her hand in marriage. Then, the princess gets sick, so Pong Lo uses a family remedy to cure the princess of her illness. The king offers to grant Pong Lo a wish for saving the princess's life. Pong Lo asks for one grain of rice, and he asks the king to double the rice every day for the next one hundred days. His wish is granted, and he becomes one of the richest men in the kingdom.
This book was very entertaining. I loved the illustrations and the book has a great message. This is a nice rendition of a classic fairytale. A Grain of Rice would be a great read for children. It is pretty short, but still, it is a very entertaining book.
April 9, 2021
I know that I have a picture book by the same name and for years I would confuse them, this is the first time I have ever actually read this little chapter book. We sat down to read a little bit and my son (Rascal 6.5) kept asking for more and more until we had read the entire little book in one sitting. This was a great follow-up to our adventures in exploring China that we have started with Beautiful Feet Books Around the World in Picture Books, Part 1. We read this on the recommendations of Sonlight Curriculum Kindergarten 2020 Exploring American History. No, this is not American History, but it is the perfect age to read and experience. It is also on several other reading lists I follow. It was moved from Sonlight A to Sonlight Kindergarten in 2020. We own a paperback copy.
February 23, 2009
Just read this story outloud to 4 of my kids ages 7-14 and they all sat and listened to it. They were fascinated by the math involved. Great story.
June 9, 2016
Lovely just lovely
March 6, 2016
Part fairy tale, part math lesson.
June 30, 2018
I have long loved Demi's picture book version of this folktale set in fifteenth century China, and I might have read this particular book when it was published three decades ago. Still, the story is fresh, vibrant, and appealing now as it was in those earlier versions. Black-and-white drawings capture the essence of the characters' personalities and the book's setting, somehow taking readers back in time, and the updated cover highlights the reason for the protagonist, Pong Lo's hard work--the Emperor's daughter, Chang Wu. When Pong Lo boldly asks for her hand in marriage, the Emperor refuses him; after all, he is a mere commoner. But Pong Lo has a keen mind and a solid work ethic, and he slowly rises in the man's court, becoming invaluable and even saving the Princess's life. But even then, the man won't budge, and refuses to give Pong Lo the only thing he wants. Pong Lo outwits the Emperor by asking for one grain of rice, to be doubled each day for 100 days. This simple request threatens to bankrupt the Emperor who cries for mercy on the fortieth day. Not only will romantics relish the story's outcome and delight in the rise of a man who seemed to have nothing but intelligence and determination, but math fans will love learning more about the math behind the story from the afterward, which even uses a graph to get the point across. I'm delighted that this story will be able to find its way to a modern audience by means of this version of the story. Obviously, it's a great read aloud choice but also an excellent one to use in a math classroom. When most folks hear about the story, they are quite doubtful until they start doing they math and learning about exponents.
February 24, 2019
A Grain of Rice by Helena Clare Pittman, 100 pages. Delacorte Press, 1986. $15.
Content: G
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL – OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
The peasant, Pong Lo, comes to the Emperor and asks for his daughter’s hand in marriage. The Emperor is insulted that a lowly peasant thinks he is good enough to marry the princess, but before he can kill Pong Lo, the princess encourages the Emperor to employ him at the palace. Eventually, Pong Lo’s cleverness and positive attitude win over the people of the palace and when Pong Lo saves the princess from an illness the Emperor offers him whatever he wants, except for the princess. Pong Lo asks for one grain of rice, doubled every day for one hundred days and the Emperor could never have guessed what that would cost him.
I totally enjoyed this story and loved Pong Lo’s determination and cleverness. The illustrations were not very appealing, and I think they would deter kids from reading this book. There is a long explanation about exponential values at the end which is very interesting and would make this book fun for a math class, but I’m unsure younger readers would be patient enough to read that part (it is about 30 pages of the book).
C. Peterson
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
Content: G
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL – OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
The peasant, Pong Lo, comes to the Emperor and asks for his daughter’s hand in marriage. The Emperor is insulted that a lowly peasant thinks he is good enough to marry the princess, but before he can kill Pong Lo, the princess encourages the Emperor to employ him at the palace. Eventually, Pong Lo’s cleverness and positive attitude win over the people of the palace and when Pong Lo saves the princess from an illness the Emperor offers him whatever he wants, except for the princess. Pong Lo asks for one grain of rice, doubled every day for one hundred days and the Emperor could never have guessed what that would cost him.
I totally enjoyed this story and loved Pong Lo’s determination and cleverness. The illustrations were not very appealing, and I think they would deter kids from reading this book. There is a long explanation about exponential values at the end which is very interesting and would make this book fun for a math class, but I’m unsure younger readers would be patient enough to read that part (it is about 30 pages of the book).
C. Peterson
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
February 23, 2023
Pong Lo is a lowly farmer's son who has fallen for the Princess. He boldly asks the Emperor for her hand, but gets a job in the storage room instead. His clever mind quickly elevates his status in the palace, until he is in a position to help create a potion to cure the princess when she becomes gravely ill. Since the Emperor refuses to give Pong Lo the princess' hand in marriage still, he asks for one grain of rice to be doubled daily for 100 days. Thinking this is a great deal, the Emperor agrees. But is it such a great deal?
I've read Demi's version of this folktale as well, and both are great. The back of this one has a note on the math parts from a math professor who breaks down the concepts of exponential growth, powers of 2, and more fairly well for middle graders. Helena Clare Pittman's stunning black and white illustrations are included throughout the book and the font size is larger than normal so the book reads fairly quickly. This reads like a non-magical fairy tale in which the peasant uses his brains to win the hand of the princesses. Recommended for historical fiction fans, math units on exponents, and folklore units.
No content issues.
I've read Demi's version of this folktale as well, and both are great. The back of this one has a note on the math parts from a math professor who breaks down the concepts of exponential growth, powers of 2, and more fairly well for middle graders. Helena Clare Pittman's stunning black and white illustrations are included throughout the book and the font size is larger than normal so the book reads fairly quickly. This reads like a non-magical fairy tale in which the peasant uses his brains to win the hand of the princesses. Recommended for historical fiction fans, math units on exponents, and folklore units.
No content issues.
March 9, 2025
I’ve encountered other versions of this story before now. One has a female protagonist, a young girl who was trying to save her kingdom from the greed of a rapacious emperor. This one has a somewhat narrower focus, as we have a commoner trying to win the hand of a princess.
As with many such tales, the commoner must show cleverness, cunning and tenacity as he wrangles a recalcitrant royal into taking him as a son-in-law. It’s a familiar trope with the prerequisite happy ending. Pong Lo’s only unusual characteristic is that he’s not merely shrewd, he’s also useful. Having won his beautiful princess, he helps provide the banquet for his own wedding.
The book is graced with lovely drawings in gray. You’d expect that author to state the origin of the story or its variations throughout the world. But this author decided on another course. There’s a small chapter at the back explaining the math that brings about the Emperor’s defeat. It’s easy to understand and makes a good addition to the main story.
As with many such tales, the commoner must show cleverness, cunning and tenacity as he wrangles a recalcitrant royal into taking him as a son-in-law. It’s a familiar trope with the prerequisite happy ending. Pong Lo’s only unusual characteristic is that he’s not merely shrewd, he’s also useful. Having won his beautiful princess, he helps provide the banquet for his own wedding.
The book is graced with lovely drawings in gray. You’d expect that author to state the origin of the story or its variations throughout the world. But this author decided on another course. There’s a small chapter at the back explaining the math that brings about the Emperor’s defeat. It’s easy to understand and makes a good addition to the main story.
October 17, 2018
Oh my! I just read a book about maths! I don’t remember reading this as a child, but it’s a PERFECT introduction to exponential numbers. Pong Lo asks for the Emperor’s daughter’s hand in marriage but, because Pong Lo is a peasant, he is rejected. He finds work in the palace, working his way up and gaining the trust of the Emperor. One day, the Princess falls ill and the Emperor offers anything to anyone who can save her. Pong Lo to the rescue! He asks for one grain of rice in return. The Emperor is bemused and asks “is that all?”, Pong Lo, the clever thing, eventually says “ok, well, if you insist, you can double it for 100 days”. The Emperor clearly didn’t study Year 9 maths because what he doesn’t realise is how quickly this will add up and by day 40 he’s sent broke (at 5 billion + grains of rice- about 20000kgs) and there’s no rice left in the kingdom. The Emperor gives in and Pong Lo and the princess marry.
Moral of the story? Stay in school kids! (And do your maths homework!)
Moral of the story? Stay in school kids! (And do your maths homework!)
August 24, 2018
This tale of clever Pong Lo would be great for a school read for many different lessons. Pong Lo desires the hand of the emperor’s daughter, Chang Wu. This cannot be as Pong Lo is a peasant. But the optimistic and very clever Pong Lo has other ideas. All it took was one grain of rice.
This book contains a math lesson at the end. It explains in clear detail and simple to understand wording what “exponential growth” is and how it can be calculated. The tale is a very good example. This book and math lesson are written for children 8-12. If any adults have trouble figuring out exponential growth and how to calculate it, I strongly suggest this book.
This book contains a math lesson at the end. It explains in clear detail and simple to understand wording what “exponential growth” is and how it can be calculated. The tale is a very good example. This book and math lesson are written for children 8-12. If any adults have trouble figuring out exponential growth and how to calculate it, I strongly suggest this book.
August 6, 2020
Read this with my 3rd graders for their literature to accompany our China studies in MFW ECC. We read it in one day, just because my kids didn't want to stop the story; but normally I'd schedule it over 2 days for 3rd graders and 3 days for 2nd graders. It's a delightful little fairy tale twist on the Indian version (probably the real one), and since I love fairy tales, I love this version. It's more developed on the story side than Demi's Indian tale. Pong Lo uses his wits to be able to marry the princess, even though he's a peasant. Of course, it's also an excellent math tale as well on how fast numbers grow by doubling.
September 22, 2020
A young and cunning peasant man wants to marry the princess. He is given the option of anything except the hand of the princess and instead he selects a single grain of rice, doubled every day for 100 days. By day 40, the Emperor cannot afford his agreement and ends the debt with his daughter's hand in marriage, to now, one of the richest men in China. The second half of the book describes the math concept of exponential growth. I covered some of it with my 5 year old but, we will definitely have to revisit this book again in the future. This is a great teaching book.
August 2, 2021
I read A Grain of Rice because it’s part of the Sonlight homeschool curriculum. It was a cute story about a poor man who wants to marry the princess but the emperor won’t let him because he’s too poor. But the man is smart and kind of tricks the emperor into slowly making him the wealthiest man in the city and then he’s able to marry the princess. At the end, the author has a nice note about the importance of math and describes concepts of doubling and exponents. It’s a really fun way to introduce math to kids (without them realizing it).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2018
I loved this book for all elementary ages. It is fun to extend it by doing a math experiment. Agree to pay your child a penny and then double the penny each day for ten days. How much money would he have? (You can actually do this right now.) You can also talk about how Pong Lo was a humble farmer, but he was always thinking of others and helping them, and everyone liked him.
Great book and fun story.
Great book and fun story.
June 12, 2021
This has already been published for 40 years and i think the story isn't original either but merely a retelling of a traditional folktale. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed it, especially seeing all the pictures. I am a big advocate for putting more pictures in books. It was also not even 100 pages so you can just blast through it in one setting. Has the added bonus of teaching a little bit about exponentials and the power of maths hehe. Would recommend
Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews