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The Earth Kingdom Chronicles #1
The Tale of Aang
I'm Aang -- and this is the tale of my journey through the Earth Kingdom. I traveled there with my friends Katara and Sokka to find an Earthbending teacher. I'm not sure why, but we ran into trouble almost everywhere we went. We got chased by Prince Zuko's sister, Azula, and got caught in a sinking library. Did I mention that Appa got kidnapped by Sandbenders? There were definitely some scary moments...but I can't complain about getting stuck in the Cave of Two Lovers with Katara! All in a day's work for the Avatar, right?
96 pages, Paperback
First published May 8, 2007
80 people are currently reading
1338 people want to read
About the author
Michael Teitelbaum
559 books51 followersMichael Teitelbaum has been a writer and editor of children’s books for more than thirty years. He worked on staff as an editor at Golden Books, Grossett & Dunlop, and Macmillan. In addition to The Scary States of America, Michael’s fiction work includes The Very Hungry Zombie: A Parody, and The Very Thirsty Vampire: A Parody both done with artist extraordinaire Jon Apple, published by Skyhorse. His non-fiction work includes writing Jackie Robinson: Champion for Equality, published by Sterling, and The Baseball Hall of Fame, a 2-volume encyclopedia, published by Grolier. He is also the series editor of Great Escapes, true-life acts of incredible courage, published by Harper Collins.
Michael has always had an interest in the paranormal, despite a rather normal childhood in Brooklyn, NY. These days, Michael lives with his wife, Sheleigah, and two talkative cats in an (as yet unhaunted) 180-year-old farmhouse in the beautiful Catskill Mountains of upstate New York.
Michael has always had an interest in the paranormal, despite a rather normal childhood in Brooklyn, NY. These days, Michael lives with his wife, Sheleigah, and two talkative cats in an (as yet unhaunted) 180-year-old farmhouse in the beautiful Catskill Mountains of upstate New York.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
May 24, 2022
If you're interested in this, it's because of the TV show, Avatar: The Last Airbender. You'll be better off reading the Wikipedia episode guide; they're more accurate and shorter so you'll waste less of your time. Don't read this. Watch the show instead.
This is a not-very-good summary of the the second season of Avatar: The Last Airbender. That's it. It doesn't stand on its own, because it's truncated and the whys and most of the hows are left out; you'll need to have watched the show to imagine what's going on. There are also lots of mistake that violate the plot (they were trapped in the tunnels because they were chased into it by Fire Nation soldiers, not just because of a random rockslide) and the worldbuilding (the book likens the Lake Logai brainwashing victims to "robots", but it's a fantasy setting where robots do not exist). It also doesn't take the time to write a passable story in its own rights. It's lazy cash grab.
Silver lining: Usually, I get sucked into a book and neglect non-book things, like dinner. I did not have that problem with this book and not only did I make myself a delicious (but noticeably salty) meal, but I was also able to go to the store and buy a really good shirt on clearance.
This is a not-very-good summary of the the second season of Avatar: The Last Airbender. That's it. It doesn't stand on its own, because it's truncated and the whys and most of the hows are left out; you'll need to have watched the show to imagine what's going on. There are also lots of mistake that violate the plot (they were trapped in the tunnels because they were chased into it by Fire Nation soldiers, not just because of a random rockslide) and the worldbuilding (the book likens the Lake Logai brainwashing victims to "robots", but it's a fantasy setting where robots do not exist). It also doesn't take the time to write a passable story in its own rights. It's lazy cash grab.
Silver lining: Usually, I get sucked into a book and neglect non-book things, like dinner. I did not have that problem with this book and not only did I make myself a delicious (but noticeably salty) meal, but I was also able to go to the store and buy a really good shirt on clearance.
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December 6, 2023I would highly recommend not reading this. This does nothing to add to the story or the cannon, it does not give you any new information if you have watched the series.
April 28, 2011
We have fallen in love with Avatar: The Last Airbender (the TV show, NOT the movie) in our house, and my son is reading all of the books associated with it. Since there is so much to discuss about this show, we talk about it quite a bit, so I'm starting to read these books too. I would highly recommend the television show as well as the books for ages 6 and up, and it is an EXCELLENT alternative to Clone Wars, especially if CW is getting a little too boring and too violent for you.
This is one of the few instances where I would say to watch the television series first, before reading the books, if possible. The books provide a lot more context, and if you've already seen the show, it could make the books even more interesting. That's what happened with us, anyway. I would save the Tale of Azula (because she's so mean, but it is #2 in the series after Tale of Aang) and the Tale of Zuko (because he's so troubled) until near the end.
This particular book (written in the first person, present tense) was wonderful because Aang talked about the ways in which he was growing and changing philosophically and gradually moving away from believing violence was the answer to the war. I especially liked the chapter toward the end, which featured Guru Pathik and discussed the opening of the chakras. That episode (I believe it was called "The Guru") was definitely worth watching.
This is one of the few instances where I would say to watch the television series first, before reading the books, if possible. The books provide a lot more context, and if you've already seen the show, it could make the books even more interesting. That's what happened with us, anyway. I would save the Tale of Azula (because she's so mean, but it is #2 in the series after Tale of Aang) and the Tale of Zuko (because he's so troubled) until near the end.
This particular book (written in the first person, present tense) was wonderful because Aang talked about the ways in which he was growing and changing philosophically and gradually moving away from believing violence was the answer to the war. I especially liked the chapter toward the end, which featured Guru Pathik and discussed the opening of the chakras. That episode (I believe it was called "The Guru") was definitely worth watching.
July 7, 2022
simply a badly summarized Book 2 of the show in Aang's POV. It had everything but like.. why would I read this book when I could watch the show!
April 3, 2024
“Katara did something for me that words could not do. The simple act of hugging me told me that she was there for me completely, without judgement, without fear. It struck a cord deep inside me. I felt my heart open up to her.”
“Instantly my mind filled with thoughts of Katara.”
“I realized that I’m never happier than when I’m with her.”
“She means everything to me.”
kataang my beloveds 😭🤍
“Instantly my mind filled with thoughts of Katara.”
“I realized that I’m never happier than when I’m with her.”
“She means everything to me.”
kataang my beloveds 😭🤍
June 14, 2020
Thoroughly enjoyed this book
December 7, 2020
A few mistakes in details - I guess to simplify things? A good overview of Book 2.
July 31, 2021
It's great I get to know Aang's thoughts. Who would have knew he actually felt sad towards Zuko.
December 26, 2023
Great for kids to read!
June 8, 2023
Awww, this was super cute!
April 22, 2013
OMG I just realized this while filling out each and every field I could on Goodreads for the first time ever. It took me literally 1 whole year to read these. I bought them last April 18 and to the day finally got around to picking up the book from my shelves (real ones) and read at work. What an utter disappointment.
At least the last books about the water "book" had pictures, trivia, forms, ugh this time around they've thrown all that out the window.... along with the COLOR! I'm now copying and pasting this review onto each of the books I had just read. If you think I'm being lazy try reading these books. Yes it's getting docked now that I've suffered through them all.
True there is a tiny section in the back, with color photos and 3D glasses that focuses on one scene from the Earth book but I swear to God almighty 3D is never going to make things better for me anymore. Unless it's the full on immersion of Michael Jackson's Captain Eo or Honey, I Shrunk the Audience! I'm out. I putting my hand to heart and telling you I am past the 3D phase. My kids will just have to suffer through good ole 2D. If they want 3D they can go the fuck outside! Believe you me you can't get any more realer than that!
This is absurd. What a big pile of smoking hot turd balls these books have become. The worst part about it is you are confused by me calling it a book when the books are already books. Yup. Following me now? Nope? Aww well it doesn't matter. Once you bought these books and power through reading them to find out you've been played odds are you aren't able to return them anyway so...whatever.
I am telling all Avatar fans. F you movie folks, you make me sick! But reals fans A:TLA and A:LOK fans, buyer beware, this one is a pass, a seriously hard pass. Just pick up the Earth Book on DVD. Honest. You'll fair better. Get the boxed set, it comes with an "exclusive" (noticing all the quotes... that tells you how much BS I have to stomach to try and get through this - exclusive here just means you can't get it unless you buy the boxed set. It doesn't mean special, limited or otherwise, in any other way...) extra disc with bonus content, splurge a little, if you bought all those discs individually - yeah you guys are screwed too, you can't get your money back for being the excited fans Nickelodeon knew you were either. I'm sorry I feel for you all.That bonus disc is great. All the interviews with Sifu Kisu and Jessie Flower make it so worth it. Do skip the shama lama ding dong garbage - yes I said it - you all know the movie was full of fail and should've been killed with fire but... Get the boxed set.
As of today it's hovering around $30 USD. If you're really cheap or hurting for cash Neflix and Amazon Prime Instant Video offer it up included in the price. If you're really strapped for cash... well, I'm sure you've been thinking this entire while reading the review what you're thinking now so I'm going to say, I am one of you, I watched my illegally downloaded TV rips of Avatar and I then I went and bought the the damn DVDs. They're worth it. Support the great world Bryke have created. Don't act like you're too good for that. When the crapy crap comes along and you're paying 20 bucks to see Transformers number whatever in fakey IMAX 3D don't lie to me and tell me you ain't got the green. Also don't get in my face and try and tell me the movie was great, I will laugh and/or punch you square in the jaw. Not kidding. Quote me on it all you'd like. Spend your money wisely. Soapbox done.
Skip on these books. Not even for your kids. They're going to know what being played feels like at a very young age. Keep them sheltered. Don't expose them to this mess. Peace.
At least the last books about the water "book" had pictures, trivia, forms, ugh this time around they've thrown all that out the window.... along with the COLOR! I'm now copying and pasting this review onto each of the books I had just read. If you think I'm being lazy try reading these books. Yes it's getting docked now that I've suffered through them all.
True there is a tiny section in the back, with color photos and 3D glasses that focuses on one scene from the Earth book but I swear to God almighty 3D is never going to make things better for me anymore. Unless it's the full on immersion of Michael Jackson's Captain Eo or Honey, I Shrunk the Audience! I'm out. I putting my hand to heart and telling you I am past the 3D phase. My kids will just have to suffer through good ole 2D. If they want 3D they can go the fuck outside! Believe you me you can't get any more realer than that!
This is absurd. What a big pile of smoking hot turd balls these books have become. The worst part about it is you are confused by me calling it a book when the books are already books. Yup. Following me now? Nope? Aww well it doesn't matter. Once you bought these books and power through reading them to find out you've been played odds are you aren't able to return them anyway so...whatever.
I am telling all Avatar fans. F you movie folks, you make me sick! But reals fans A:TLA and A:LOK fans, buyer beware, this one is a pass, a seriously hard pass. Just pick up the Earth Book on DVD. Honest. You'll fair better. Get the boxed set, it comes with an "exclusive" (noticing all the quotes... that tells you how much BS I have to stomach to try and get through this - exclusive here just means you can't get it unless you buy the boxed set. It doesn't mean special, limited or otherwise, in any other way...) extra disc with bonus content, splurge a little, if you bought all those discs individually - yeah you guys are screwed too, you can't get your money back for being the excited fans Nickelodeon knew you were either. I'm sorry I feel for you all.That bonus disc is great. All the interviews with Sifu Kisu and Jessie Flower make it so worth it. Do skip the shama lama ding dong garbage - yes I said it - you all know the movie was full of fail and should've been killed with fire but... Get the boxed set.
As of today it's hovering around $30 USD. If you're really cheap or hurting for cash Neflix and Amazon Prime Instant Video offer it up included in the price. If you're really strapped for cash... well, I'm sure you've been thinking this entire while reading the review what you're thinking now so I'm going to say, I am one of you, I watched my illegally downloaded TV rips of Avatar and I then I went and bought the the damn DVDs. They're worth it. Support the great world Bryke have created. Don't act like you're too good for that. When the crapy crap comes along and you're paying 20 bucks to see Transformers number whatever in fakey IMAX 3D don't lie to me and tell me you ain't got the green. Also don't get in my face and try and tell me the movie was great, I will laugh and/or punch you square in the jaw. Not kidding. Quote me on it all you'd like. Spend your money wisely. Soapbox done.
Skip on these books. Not even for your kids. They're going to know what being played feels like at a very young age. Keep them sheltered. Don't expose them to this mess. Peace.
January 15, 2015
This book was as bad as the animated series was good, which is to say, spectacularly bad. I have no idea how this juvenile drivel was published.
The book basically chronicles the second season of Avatar from beginning to end, but from Aang's point of view. Tense changes constantly; one moment, Aang is describing something that happened in the past, and the next, he is narrating an event apparently occurring in real time. (Lots of "Oh no, what's that?", etc.) It comes off as a directionless stream of consciousness written by a third grader.
The writing overall is so shallow as to be insulting to its juvenile audience, unlike the cartoon, which respected its viewers' intelligence to a degree you don't often see on a kids' show. Just because they are young does NOT mean they are stupid!
And lastly, the entire book was set in an "exotic" font best used sparingly as an accent as opposed to applied to body text. This is Page Layout 101, folks.
tl;dr
Skip. Even if you're a die-hard Avatar fan.
The book basically chronicles the second season of Avatar from beginning to end, but from Aang's point of view. Tense changes constantly; one moment, Aang is describing something that happened in the past, and the next, he is narrating an event apparently occurring in real time. (Lots of "Oh no, what's that?", etc.) It comes off as a directionless stream of consciousness written by a third grader.
The writing overall is so shallow as to be insulting to its juvenile audience, unlike the cartoon, which respected its viewers' intelligence to a degree you don't often see on a kids' show. Just because they are young does NOT mean they are stupid!
And lastly, the entire book was set in an "exotic" font best used sparingly as an accent as opposed to applied to body text. This is Page Layout 101, folks.
tl;dr
Skip. Even if you're a die-hard Avatar fan.
June 16, 2016
My least favorite of the set, partially because Aang is my least favorite of the main characters and partially because it's clear that less effort was put into these earlier books to make them interesting. There was a lot more summarizing of action scenes in this than I remember happening in the later books. But maybe I just don't remember them that well and need to reread. Either way, I still liked it. It was a quick way to relive some of Avatar without getting sucked into the bottomless hole that a rewatch would do.
I am really confused as to why the gender of the baby born in the Serpent's Pass was changed, though.... In the show the baby was a girl, but for some reason in that scene here in the book , it was a boy. I guess they just didn't fact-check.
I am really confused as to why the gender of the baby born in the Serpent's Pass was changed, though.... In the show the baby was a girl, but for some reason in that scene here in the book , it was a boy. I guess they just didn't fact-check.
May 29, 2013
Our oldest got this book at a book swap at her school. She thought her little sister would like it, but she really didn't get into it. I thought I would read it before they swapped it for another book, and I can see why she lost interest so quickly. The story is a jumbled stream of consciousness mixed with random dialogue that really has no coherent flow. Perhaps it makes sense as a script from which to base the cartoon, but as a book it is lacking. I enjoyed reading about the different characters, especially since I like the cartoon, but it just doesn't work well as a story. Still, it's a quick read, and the 3-D comic at the end of the book is entertaining.
October 1, 2007
the tale of an avatar kid journey through the Earth Kingdom. He is traveled with his friends Katara and Sokka to find an Earthbending teacher. for being a true avatar
September 6, 2009
Just me and my Avatar loving self. Has LOTS of Kataang! ^_^
February 13, 2012
Basically the same as season 2 earth except it's just from Aang's perspective and it is really quick.
December 31, 2024
Not the most interesting to read, and in all honesty I wouldn't suggest it to anyone else. Still a fun idea though and I'll never hate too much on any ATLA content.
March 1, 2010
All in a day's work for the Avatar.
June 15, 2016
this is not that much special
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews