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The Five Forms
Award-winning author-illustrator Barbara McClintock’s meticulous research and vibrant watercolor illustrations breathe life into this frenzied, fictionalized exploration of China’s ancient Five Forms.
When a young girl finds a mysterious, discarded book of martial arts poses, she ignores the warning printed in bold inside its cover: DO NOT ATTEMPT THESE FORMS WITHOUT AN EXPERIENCED TEACHER! She decides to attempt them herself . . . but is shocked to find that doing so conjures real animals right into her home! The chaos escalates as she releases a leopard, a snake, and a dragon, each creature larger and more destructive than the last. It is only once she manages the fifth and final form that things return to normal. But will she be able to clean up the mess she’s created before her mother returns home?
A New York City Public Library Notable Best Book for Kids
When a young girl finds a mysterious, discarded book of martial arts poses, she ignores the warning printed in bold inside its cover: DO NOT ATTEMPT THESE FORMS WITHOUT AN EXPERIENCED TEACHER! She decides to attempt them herself . . . but is shocked to find that doing so conjures real animals right into her home! The chaos escalates as she releases a leopard, a snake, and a dragon, each creature larger and more destructive than the last. It is only once she manages the fifth and final form that things return to normal. But will she be able to clean up the mess she’s created before her mother returns home?
A New York City Public Library Notable Best Book for Kids
40 pages, Hardcover
First published October 3, 2017
2 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
About the author
Barbara McClintock
59 books90 followersBarbara McClintock is the author and illustrator of books for children.
Her books have won 4 New York Times Best Books awards, a New York Times Notable Book citation, a Boston Globe/Horn Book Honor award, numerous other awards, recommended/best book lists, and starred reviews. Her books have been made into children's videos, a ballet/opera, and a recorded books on tape.
Barbara drew constantly as a child. By the time she was seven, she knew she would be an artist when she grew up. Her older sister recommended she be a childrens' book illustrator, and this proved to be a rare instance when she followed her sister's advice. Barbara also wanted to be a cat when she grew up, and is glad she had art as a back up plan.
The first part of Barbara's growing up was in Clinton, NJ. Her early influences were her photographer father, seamstress/teacher mother, and the cartoon character Top Cat.
Barbara moved to North Dakota when she was 9 with her mother and sister after her parents divorced. She continued to draw through middle and high school, frequently in the margins of her tests and homework.
Barbara attended Jamestown College in North Dakota, where she refined her drawing skills by copying pictures in artbooks she checked out of her college library.
Two weeks after her 20th birthday, Barbara moved to New York City to begin her career on the recommendation of Maurice Sendak, whon she called from North Dakota for advice about how to become a children's book illustrator.
Barbara studied for two months at the Art Student's League in New York City. She continued to copy from art books she checked out of libraries, and sketched paintings and drawings in museums in New York City. Barbara is essentially self-taught as an artist/illustrator.
After illustrating books written by other authors, Barbara began writing as well as producing the artwork for her own books.
She currently lives in rural Connectucut with the illustrator David A. Johnson, their cats Pip and Emma, and David's truly gorgeous rose garden.
Her books have won 4 New York Times Best Books awards, a New York Times Notable Book citation, a Boston Globe/Horn Book Honor award, numerous other awards, recommended/best book lists, and starred reviews. Her books have been made into children's videos, a ballet/opera, and a recorded books on tape.
Barbara drew constantly as a child. By the time she was seven, she knew she would be an artist when she grew up. Her older sister recommended she be a childrens' book illustrator, and this proved to be a rare instance when she followed her sister's advice. Barbara also wanted to be a cat when she grew up, and is glad she had art as a back up plan.
The first part of Barbara's growing up was in Clinton, NJ. Her early influences were her photographer father, seamstress/teacher mother, and the cartoon character Top Cat.
Barbara moved to North Dakota when she was 9 with her mother and sister after her parents divorced. She continued to draw through middle and high school, frequently in the margins of her tests and homework.
Barbara attended Jamestown College in North Dakota, where she refined her drawing skills by copying pictures in artbooks she checked out of her college library.
Two weeks after her 20th birthday, Barbara moved to New York City to begin her career on the recommendation of Maurice Sendak, whon she called from North Dakota for advice about how to become a children's book illustrator.
Barbara studied for two months at the Art Student's League in New York City. She continued to copy from art books she checked out of libraries, and sketched paintings and drawings in museums in New York City. Barbara is essentially self-taught as an artist/illustrator.
After illustrating books written by other authors, Barbara began writing as well as producing the artwork for her own books.
She currently lives in rural Connectucut with the illustrator David A. Johnson, their cats Pip and Emma, and David's truly gorgeous rose garden.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
November 9, 2024
Fantastic introduction to Chinese martial-arts. I think this book will appeal to young children just starting to learn a martial art. Study and observation are stressed in a way that you have to have if you want to advance in studying forms. The art goes very well with the story.
November 13, 2017
Barbara McClintock always creates lovely wonderful books, and this is no exception.
A young girl practices martial arts movements, and brings to life the animals that the poses are named for, mayhem ensues. The illustrations are fantastic!
A young girl practices martial arts movements, and brings to life the animals that the poses are named for, mayhem ensues. The illustrations are fantastic!
December 14, 2017
Imaginative.
January 5, 2020
A young girl finds an instruction manual for some of the forms of kung fu, and despite the warning included about not trying them out without an instructor, she goes ahead. Each form she uses - Crane, Leopard, Snake, and Dragon - results in that animal appearing in her apartment and causing chaos. Each one is supposed to conquer the previous, but what they really conquer is her apartment. Can the girl set things to rights before her mother gets home...?
This newest picture-book from author/artist Barbara McClintock is quite an appealing romp, pairing an engaging story about a young girl's martial arts experimentation, and the fantastical results it brings, with immensely energetic, appealing illustrations. I do wish that the conclusion hadn't shown the girl getting rid of the book, as it seems to imply that kung fu isn't worth the 'trouble' that it caused in the story. Leaving that one quibble aside, I did enjoy The Five Forms, and thought the artwork was particularly well done. The sense of motion on each two-page spread, the vivid use of colors, all contribute to the magical feeling, as each form comes alive. Recommended to young martial arts enthusiasts, and to fellow admirers of McClintock's art.
This newest picture-book from author/artist Barbara McClintock is quite an appealing romp, pairing an engaging story about a young girl's martial arts experimentation, and the fantastical results it brings, with immensely energetic, appealing illustrations. I do wish that the conclusion hadn't shown the girl getting rid of the book, as it seems to imply that kung fu isn't worth the 'trouble' that it caused in the story. Leaving that one quibble aside, I did enjoy The Five Forms, and thought the artwork was particularly well done. The sense of motion on each two-page spread, the vivid use of colors, all contribute to the magical feeling, as each form comes alive. Recommended to young martial arts enthusiasts, and to fellow admirers of McClintock's art.
October 15, 2017
One never knows what happens when you pick up a free book outside the library! Open the book, open your mind, and watch it come alive!
Simple text provides a framework for a martial arts interpretation of excitement and danger.
Illustrations have curvey lines and bold black outlines.
Simple text provides a framework for a martial arts interpretation of excitement and danger.
Illustrations have curvey lines and bold black outlines.
July 3, 2020
A little girl tries out some martial arts poses, but real animals show up and begin wreaking havoc.
Loads of fussin' and fightin' fun.
Loads of fussin' and fightin' fun.
October 11, 2017
Give. Barbara. McClintock's. Books. A Larger. Trim size!
These paintings deserve to be blown up poster-size.
These paintings deserve to be blown up poster-size.
June 16, 2018
I was enchanted by this exuberant and imaginative story! Barbara McClintock's books are always favorites and I think kids are going to love this. I loved her twist on the fifth form! How I wish I had that power when my grandsons have been for a visit ;-)
January 12, 2018
Explains the five forms of martial art poses and the power each is supposed to release. But be careful when using it!
January 11, 2018
Exceptional, exuberant illustrations.
October 29, 2017
When a girl discovers a book of martial arts forms, she ignores the warming in the book that says that “unexpected results” can happen if anyone other than a master attempts them. When the girl tries the crane form, a large crane appears in her room. The crane is quite problematic and destructive, so she quickly moves on to leopard form. As the two animals fight, she adds another and another with a snake and dragon joining the battle. Finally, she reaches the last form to turn things back to normal. She tidies up the mess of the house just before her mother comes in with tickets to the zoo. Perhaps it’s time for someone else to read that book! McClintock’s text is very simple here, with much of the action of the book happening in the images. The book moves from straight picture book to comic frames and back again with alacrity and in a way that flows naturally from form to form. The illustrations are filled with huge animals, messes and activity. This is a fun look at martial arts with a dash of magic. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
November 22, 2017
What a fun book! The idea is fantastic, the illustrations take on a life of their own (literally), and it's executed perfectly. Honestly, the worst thing about this book is that cover! It's a horrible representation of the actual book; that yellow makes the whole thing look dated. So don't judge this book by its cover and check it out!
February 1, 2018
My seven year old just read this book aloud to me while the two of us practiced the girl's poses together. (They are quite similar to poses in the martial arts style we practice--several appear in forms I have--so we were able to mimic them fairly well!) The commentary of the young girl as she experiences such unexpected consequences are spot on, and we giggled between stances at her misadventures. We enjoyed it--together--tremendously, and my daughter reports that she's already read it several times at school; she enjoyed it so much she brought it home specifically to share. I'm so glad she did!
December 9, 2017
Fans of The Red Book by Barbara Lehman will enjoy this book as a girl finds a mysterious book that should only be read by a martial arts master. But in her enthusiasm, she practices the different forms and ends up conjuring different animals making a literal mess of things. With traditional picture book format and a dash of comic strip panels, I was delighted by the amazing artwork.
November 3, 2017
Gorgeous illustrations and a simple graphic story of a girl doing animal forms in martial arts.
November 15, 2017
Imaginative and funny! Best shared on a lap.
November 21, 2017
I liked this a lot!
February 11, 2018
When a young girl finds an old book discarded near the trash, she takes it home and is fascinated by the five martial arts poses it presents. Ignoring the warning not to attempt the poses without an expert to guide her, she manages to master five poses or forms, and unleashes the spirit of a crane right there in her room. In order to deal with the crane, she moves her body into the position of a leopard, a snake, a dragon, each of which chase the other ones, until she finally mimics the fifth form and puts everything back in its place. Although the little girl's mother surprises her with tickets to the zoo, she does not share with her mother what she's been up to. The illustrations are incredibly detailed, filled with warm colors that actually take up the entire page at a couple of points, and give readers a sense that they are in the same space as the girl. Although it would be impossible for her to have mastered those forms in such a short amount of time, the book may prompt curiosity among young readers about this form of movement and the self-discipline it requires. I adored the expressions on the girl's face and her eyes as she returns that book to its original place with her mother none the wiser.
April 19, 2018
Like a literary version of “Jumanji”, this book playfully illustrates the perils that are unleashed when a girl tries the five basic forms of Chinese martial arts. The forms come alive as their animal counterparts, colorful beasts that wreak havoc on her house until she brings them and herself under control.
The book is a playful romp, with sly little details hidden among the chaos. The girl’s toys and backpack have expressions of nervousness, shock and fear as the animals called up by her experiment battle for dominion in her room before taking the fight to the rest of the house.
The illustrations are dynamic, brightly colored and show a fine grip of drama. The story ends as it began, with the book left lying for the next hapless victim. It’s a funny picture book and a small peek into the exercises of Chinese culture.
The book is a playful romp, with sly little details hidden among the chaos. The girl’s toys and backpack have expressions of nervousness, shock and fear as the animals called up by her experiment battle for dominion in her room before taking the fight to the rest of the house.
The illustrations are dynamic, brightly colored and show a fine grip of drama. The story ends as it began, with the book left lying for the next hapless victim. It’s a funny picture book and a small peek into the exercises of Chinese culture.
March 29, 2018
The watercolor illustrations are vivid and colorful, but the book doesn't delve at all into the deeper meanings behind the forms, how they relate to the elements or to the practice of the art. I appreciate that the author's son practices Chinese martial arts and gave her some good information (see note at the end), but I hoped that more of that would be incorporated into the story. The fact that the little girl abandons the mysterious book at the end is disappointing; it doesn't say much for her imagination being stimulated by her exploration and discoveries.
February 24, 2018
I'm not sure exactly what it is about this book that has me so enamored of it. It introduces an ancient concept to children in a way that is sure to stimulate further interest and that manages to convey its power and gravity while being absolutely silly and chaotic. The art is incredible, mixing two-page spreads with panels and speech bubbles--McClintock doesn't waste any space, either, making the action feel closed in and intense but not fear-inducing.
January 5, 2019
A girl takes a book that is "free to a good home", little does she know that the warning that the five forms should only be practiced with a master present is not a gimmick, but a necessary precaution. It's always an amazing adventure when a story tells of a book that has the power to either swallow the reader into it or let the characters out, and this one does not disappoint. The author's note as to where she found the inspiration for this story is also very cool.
December 12, 2017
A girl finds a free book on martial arts forms. Unfortunately, each animal-named form caused that animal to appear. The animals are not exactly house-safe. Fortunately, the last form in the book sends all the animals away and the girl gets the house cleaned-up just before her parents arrive home.
A little bit reminiscent of The Cat in the Hat as far as mischief while the parents are away.
A little bit reminiscent of The Cat in the Hat as far as mischief while the parents are away.
January 24, 2018
Odd frame with girl picking up a random handmade book on top of a library drop box, BUT inside the book she finds an introduction to five forms of martial arts. As she performs the positions, the animals (crane, leopard, snake, and dragon) come to life and wreck her house. Fantastic illustrations, some are wordless, some have speech bubbles and comic frames, and some have standard text-in-a-box.
February 1, 2018
This book was a HUGE hit with my toddler/preK story time kids. The really focused on the pictures, and they were really participating in the storytelling ("But what if her mom comes home?" "Oh no, the dragon!"). Got lots of "I loved that one!" at the end. Afterwards we talked about our favorite animals and pretended to be animals. Highly recommend for that age group.
February 16, 2018
Books can open doors to many worlds – some more easily controlled than others. A girl finds a book on Chinese martial arts. While trying the forms, she brings to life a crane, a leopard, a serpent and a dragon. The fifth form brings everything back to normal – almost.
A charming book that introduces a bit of Chinese culture in a fun and imaginative way.
A charming book that introduces a bit of Chinese culture in a fun and imaginative way.
March 13, 2020
This is an enjoyable story with dramatic and expressive illustrations.
When a little girl finds a book about martial-arts poses, she ignores the warning that they should only be performed by an experienced teacher. What happens causes chaos in her house as she attempts to overcome the results of each pose with a more powerful one.
Enjoyable read with much to see in the pictures.
When a little girl finds a book about martial-arts poses, she ignores the warning that they should only be performed by an experienced teacher. What happens causes chaos in her house as she attempts to overcome the results of each pose with a more powerful one.
Enjoyable read with much to see in the pictures.
April 13, 2021
Riotous fun! Taking a book from the Free to a Good Home box a little girl discovers the magic of martial art. As most children might she ignores the warnings that the art forms should be performed by Masters only. The ensuing chaos is hilarious. Great imaginative play and artwork.
January 13, 2025
I love this idea, where the martial art forms release the power of the animals that they represent.
The illustrations and all the chaos that she unleashes with her martial art moves will definitely appeal to kids.
The illustrations and all the chaos that she unleashes with her martial art moves will definitely appeal to kids.
May 12, 2017
Martial arts form animals come to life as a girl practices.
From advanced reader copy.
From advanced reader copy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews