Tales of a Chinese Grandmother: 30 Traditional Tales from China

by Frances Carpenter, Malthe Hasselriis

This illustrated multicultural children's book presents classic Chinese fairy tales and other folk stories—providing a delightful look into a rich literary culture.

Chinese folklore tradition is as colorful and captivating as any in the world, but the stories themselves still are not as well-known to Western readers as those from The Brothers Grimm, Mother Goose, or Hans Christian Andersen.

Tales of a Chinese Grandmother , written by Frances Carpenter, presents a collection of 30 authentic Chinese folktales. These classic stories represent the best of the Chinese folk tradition and are told here by the character Lao Lao, the beloved grandmother of the nineteenth-century Ling household. A sampling from a long and proud tradition, these Chinese folktales are sure to delight adults as well as children of all ages.

Chinese children's stories

Genres: Fantasy, Mythology, Childrens, China, Short Stories, Fiction, Asia

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1937

About the author

Frances Aretta Carpenter was born in 1890, in Washington, D.C., the daughter of Frank G. Carpenter, a journalist and travel book author. She was educated at Smith College, receiving her BA in 1912. In 1920, she married W. Chapin Huntington, with whom she had two children. Carpenter was well traveled, accompanying her father on his investigate tours as a girl, and her husband on his stints with the United States Foreign Service. Those experiences are reflected in her many children's books, which feature folklore from many parts of the world.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[May͛a · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

The title already tells you what the book is about. I really tried to like this one, and I feel like my reasons for giving it a sort-of-low rating might be too personal. I'm not that much of a picky person, but I couldn't get used to the writing. I love detailed descriptions, but in here it felt extremely tedious. It was also sometimes confusing, because you'd be reading one of the tales, and then it'll suddenly switch to the grandmother and the household, and then back to the story within the story again. Personally I feel like it would've been better had the stories, er, been on their own, with the first chapter focused on the grandmother and her grandchildren.

Call me dramatic or too sensitive, but while reading this book there were a few scenes and/or descriptions that made me frown. Being Chinese myself, I felt like some parts were...racist...unintentionally. Or maybe it's just me overthinking, but it did make me pause my reading and send my friend an angry text/rant. Chances are that I'm making a big deal out of nothing, though.

This book wasn't all that bad, and a few chapters succeeded in making me feel nostalgic. Preparing for the Chinese new year, hearing the story of the white snake once more...I deeply enjoyed reading those. It's not enough to make me recommend it to people, but if you're interested in Chinese culture or history, go ahead :)

[TheMidnightSun · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book feels like warm tea on a breezy evening. A fantastic portal to a beautiful culture.

[F · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of these fairy tales or folk lords are very familiar to me and yet very strange to me as well. I think it is because it is written in English even the translations are pretty accurate. It is a great way to learn the traditional Chinese culture and history through the folk tales. I highly recommend it who is interested.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The tales weren't told in the most interesting way. However, the way the author added the family dynamic and cultural explanations gave a much fuller picture to the meaning and application of the tales.

[Elentarikz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful introduction, not just to Chinese fairy tales, but also to the very intriguing Chinese Culture. Each story is preceded and followed by excerpts from the life of a middle class Chinese family linking the tales.

[Viola Briatková · Rating 5 out of 5]

all well known chinese legends on one place.

[Greynomad · Rating 2 out of 5]

no patience to finish the book

[Dortheaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is another useful source to learn Chinese culture. The stories are traditional and you might find some original stories are similar to the ones you watch in movies or dramas.

[Cassie Forsythe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the stories are more relatable if you know the gist of it. I got a bit bored reading it.

[Cynthia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some nice tales, some memorable ones, and some so-so only. I'm not sure it if it's the translator or the author, but the writing comes across as simple and for elementary reader.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Traditional tales embedded in the context of a grandmother sharing them (and plenty of other things -- etiquette, family lore, history) with her grandchildren. Good for a glimpse into Chinese culture. Lots of description. The tales are sometimes sketchy, sometimes interrupted with other events and conversations. There are many better books for texts of the stories.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tales of a Chinese Grandmother, by Frances Carpenter is a wonderful novel that is full of folk tales and stories. Set back in old China, this book is about a rich family's wise grandmother who tells her two grandchildren stories when they are having a quarrel, when they are bored or just for fun. This is a great book and the tales that she tells are all vivid and wise, a great read. I give this deserving book a big five stars and I recommend this to folk-tale and historical book lovers!

[Zoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started reading this aloud to the kids, then realized how tedious it is! I liked it as a child mostly because of the exotic cultural details, but now it seems ethnocentric, even racist, though not on purpose. And boring. How sad! I am now trapped into reading the whole thing aloud, because one of my three listeners loves it. :) The one redeeming quality is an excellent portrayal of the degree to which grandparents and elders are honored and adored in (old?) China.

[Johanna H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful .. The tales are wise and vivid. The whole Story telling with the Grandmother telling the children the Storys is lovely made.. And it's a great insight to Traditional Chinese Life and Culture! I recommend it to everyone who is interested in Chinese History & Folk Tales.. Everyone who is enchanted with Asian Culture! And for everyone who likes this Book i can recommend the Book Tales of a Korean Grandmother it's just as good and i loved it !

[C. Patrick G. Erker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up while in Taipei for work. My friend Austin helped me find it at one of Taiwan’s most famous bookstores (Eslite).
This one is fun because it tells ancient Chinese tales while also telling the tale of a Chinese family, with the grandmother recalling them for her young grandchildren.
The stories are highly entertaining and culturally fascinating.
The book could have used a proofreader, as there are tons of embarrassing proofing errors.

[Kathy Chung · Rating 4 out of 5]

wonderful books. its good to know someone had written down these wonderful stories for the coming generation to enjoy.

I have hear/ read some of the stories in this book during my youth. it's certainly nice to revisit them.

reading it also gave me a sad feeling. I wonder how many of the next generation of readers would read and enjoy this. how many would know of the tales ......

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great peak into the Chinese culture!

[Ruth Dahl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy reading fairy tales from different cultures, and this was a fun glimpse into ancient Chinese culture.
I also reaaaaaallllyyy need a short film done about 'The Pained Eyebrow'

[Susanna]

09/05/08, City Shop, 100,00RMB