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The Seven Chinese Brothers
A magnificently illustrated and authentic retelling of the classic Chinese folktale of the seven brothers and their supernatural gifts.
40 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
21 people are currently reading
892 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Mahy
400 books291 followersMargaret Mahy was a well-known New Zealand author of children's and young adult books. While the plots of many of her books have strong supernatural elements, her writing concentrates on the themes of human relationships and growing up.
Her books The Haunting and The Changeover: A Supernatural Romance both received the Carnegie Medal of the British Library Association. There have 100 children's books, 40 novels, and 20 collections of her stories published. Among her children's books, A Lion in the Meadow and The Seven Chinese Brothers and The Man Whose Mother was a Pirate are considered national classics. Her novels have been translated into German, French, Spanish, Dutch, Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, Finnish, Italian, Japanese, Catalan and Afrikaans. In addition, some stories have been translated into Russian, Chinese and Icelandic.
For her contributions to children's literature she was made a member of the Order of New Zealand. The Margaret Mahy Medal Award was established by the New Zealand Children's Book Foundation in 1991 to provide recognition of excellence in children's literature, publishing and literacy in New Zealand. In 2006 she was awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Award (known as the Little Nobel Prize) in recognition of a "lasting contribution to children's literature".
Margaret Mahy died on 23 July 2012.
On 29 April 2013, New Zealand’s top honour for children’s books was renamed the New Zealand Post Margaret Mahy Book of the Year award.
For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret...
Her books The Haunting and The Changeover: A Supernatural Romance both received the Carnegie Medal of the British Library Association. There have 100 children's books, 40 novels, and 20 collections of her stories published. Among her children's books, A Lion in the Meadow and The Seven Chinese Brothers and The Man Whose Mother was a Pirate are considered national classics. Her novels have been translated into German, French, Spanish, Dutch, Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, Finnish, Italian, Japanese, Catalan and Afrikaans. In addition, some stories have been translated into Russian, Chinese and Icelandic.
For her contributions to children's literature she was made a member of the Order of New Zealand. The Margaret Mahy Medal Award was established by the New Zealand Children's Book Foundation in 1991 to provide recognition of excellence in children's literature, publishing and literacy in New Zealand. In 2006 she was awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Award (known as the Little Nobel Prize) in recognition of a "lasting contribution to children's literature".
Margaret Mahy died on 23 July 2012.
On 29 April 2013, New Zealand’s top honour for children’s books was renamed the New Zealand Post Margaret Mahy Book of the Year award.
For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
March 19, 2015
This was one of my favorite stories as a child, I had a copy and read it often.
What made me think of this wonderful book was the catchy REM song from my later youth.
Good times.
What made me think of this wonderful book was the catchy REM song from my later youth.
Good times.
February 7, 2021
عنوان ترجمهٔ فارسی: هفت برادر
October 16, 2010
This story is about seven Chinese brothers that all live together. The brothers are all so much alike that you can hardly tell them apart except that they each have a different amazing power. One has amazing ears, one has amazing eye sight, one has great strength, one has iron bones, one has legs that can grow, one never gets to hot, and the last brother if he cries, one tear will drown a whole city. The brother with great hearing heard people working and the brother with great eyesight could see hundreds of men repairing a hole in the Great Wall of China and so the brother with all the strength went to help. The emperor who thought that a person this strong would do more damage than good sentenced him to death, they were going to behead him. The one brother heard him crying so the brother with iron bones went to take his place. This continues with each brother and finally they outsmart the emperor.
This story is based on a traditional Chinese tale about seven Chinese brothers. It also gives information about the Great Wall of China and how it was created.
This story is based on a traditional Chinese tale about seven Chinese brothers. It also gives information about the Great Wall of China and how it was created.
March 1, 2023
I loved this as a kid and now my girls love it too. Jojo keeps asking when we can get it again.
January 5, 2024
When we read this book aloud, every kid is hooked.
November 13, 2018
Genre: Fairy Tale/Fiction
Grade level: 3-5
Plot: The seven Chinese brothers is about seven brother who all look alike but have individual extraordinary qualities. One has amazing ears, another has amazing eye sight, the third has great strength, fourth has iron bones, fifth has legs that can grow, the sixth never gets to hot, and the last brother if he cries his tears can drown a whole city. One day the brother with great hearing heard people working and the brother with great eyesight could see hundreds of men repairing a hole in the Great Wall of China. They looked tired and weak from not getting enough food. To help the brother with all the strength built the wall in no time. The emperor who thought that a person this strong would do more damage than good sentenced him to death, they were going to behead him. The brother who could hear well heard the brother with strength crying. To help, the brother with iron bones went to take his place, and the soldiers could not chop of his head. Each time the emperor tries to kill one brother another takes his place to use their power and finally they outsmart the emperor.
When reading this book is became my favorite because I can see how this would be a great book for learning to make predictions. Students can work on trying to make prediction of how each brothers power can help solve the next problem. This book also has unique pictures and a lot that can show you about china and its culture.
Grade level: 3-5
Plot: The seven Chinese brothers is about seven brother who all look alike but have individual extraordinary qualities. One has amazing ears, another has amazing eye sight, the third has great strength, fourth has iron bones, fifth has legs that can grow, the sixth never gets to hot, and the last brother if he cries his tears can drown a whole city. One day the brother with great hearing heard people working and the brother with great eyesight could see hundreds of men repairing a hole in the Great Wall of China. They looked tired and weak from not getting enough food. To help the brother with all the strength built the wall in no time. The emperor who thought that a person this strong would do more damage than good sentenced him to death, they were going to behead him. The brother who could hear well heard the brother with strength crying. To help, the brother with iron bones went to take his place, and the soldiers could not chop of his head. Each time the emperor tries to kill one brother another takes his place to use their power and finally they outsmart the emperor.
When reading this book is became my favorite because I can see how this would be a great book for learning to make predictions. Students can work on trying to make prediction of how each brothers power can help solve the next problem. This book also has unique pictures and a lot that can show you about china and its culture.
March 17, 2008
I loved this book when I was about 5 or 6. It was utterly weird, dreamlike and surreal, and I sensed that even at that age.
September 19, 2021
I remember a version of this from my childhood and later also enjoyed the REM song.
To clarify the background for everyone. Ten Brothers (Chinese: 十兄弟; pinyin: Shí Xiōngdì) is a Chinese legend known to be written around the time of the Ming Dynasty (1368 to 1644). It has been told and spun off in various adaptations and remains popular since it is one of the oldest Chinese legends to feature characters in a superhero fashion. The number of brothers varies among Chinese ethnicities. The Yi people have nine brothers, the Zhuang people have eight brothers, the Han people have five brothers and the Li people have 10 brothers.
The Five Chinese Brothers is an American children's book written by Claire Huchet Bishop and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. It was originally published in 1938 by Coward-McCann. The book is a retelling of a Chinese folk tale, Ten Brothers.
The REM song was partially inspired by a 1938 children's book called The Five Chinese Brothers, which is based on a traditional Chinese tale. In this story, each of the brothers possesses some form of supernatural power. One, who has the ability to hold an ocean in his mouth (hence the line in the song "Seven Chinese brothers swallowing the ocean"), agrees to help a young boy who wants to gather fish. Greed consumes the boy and he refuses to return to the shore when called. The Chinese brother cannot hold the ocean any longer and, in letting the waters return, the boy drowns. The brother is subsequently found guilty of causing the child's death. However, when sentenced to be hanged, the accused brother changes places with one of his identical siblings who just so happens to possess a neck that cannot be broken. When this form of execution predictably fails, the brother is sentenced to be burned to death. Again a switch occurs, this time with a brother possessing the ability to resist fire, and so on with the rest of the brothers.
An updated version of the tale published in 1992 - a decade after the R.E.M. song was released - featured seven brothers.
"Seven Chinese brothers swallowing the ocean,
Seven thousand years to sleep away the pain,
She will return, she will return..."
To clarify the background for everyone. Ten Brothers (Chinese: 十兄弟; pinyin: Shí Xiōngdì) is a Chinese legend known to be written around the time of the Ming Dynasty (1368 to 1644). It has been told and spun off in various adaptations and remains popular since it is one of the oldest Chinese legends to feature characters in a superhero fashion. The number of brothers varies among Chinese ethnicities. The Yi people have nine brothers, the Zhuang people have eight brothers, the Han people have five brothers and the Li people have 10 brothers.
The Five Chinese Brothers is an American children's book written by Claire Huchet Bishop and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. It was originally published in 1938 by Coward-McCann. The book is a retelling of a Chinese folk tale, Ten Brothers.
The REM song was partially inspired by a 1938 children's book called The Five Chinese Brothers, which is based on a traditional Chinese tale. In this story, each of the brothers possesses some form of supernatural power. One, who has the ability to hold an ocean in his mouth (hence the line in the song "Seven Chinese brothers swallowing the ocean"), agrees to help a young boy who wants to gather fish. Greed consumes the boy and he refuses to return to the shore when called. The Chinese brother cannot hold the ocean any longer and, in letting the waters return, the boy drowns. The brother is subsequently found guilty of causing the child's death. However, when sentenced to be hanged, the accused brother changes places with one of his identical siblings who just so happens to possess a neck that cannot be broken. When this form of execution predictably fails, the brother is sentenced to be burned to death. Again a switch occurs, this time with a brother possessing the ability to resist fire, and so on with the rest of the brothers.
An updated version of the tale published in 1992 - a decade after the R.E.M. song was released - featured seven brothers.
"Seven Chinese brothers swallowing the ocean,
Seven thousand years to sleep away the pain,
She will return, she will return..."
October 12, 2019
(Folkore pick)
The Seven Chinese Brothers is a classic Chinese folktale first written in the 1930s. Though it has been rewritten many times over the decades, the message of the story remains the same. The story tells of seven brothers (five in some versions of the retelling) that each have a power unique to themselves that they use to defeat an evil, powerful emperor. Though the emperor tries to kill each of the brothers at one point or another, the remaining brothers use their intelligence to outwit the emperor and save each at the last moment. The message of the book is about the power of family, and their ability to overcome even the greatest odds as long as they stay together. This was a WOW book choice for me because it not only incorporated Chinese history and culture into the story, but it also utilizes a great pattern of repetition that older students would be able to appreciate and predict as the book goes on.
This story would be particularly good for first and second grade, as the language may be too difficult for kindergarteners to understand. With a first or second grade class, teachers could have a read aloud with the book, and have the students attempt to predict which brother's power will be needed next in the story. Another activity could be having the students write their own version of the story, creating one or two characters with their own powers that they need to use to save one another.
The Seven Chinese Brothers is a Blue Ribbon book, and was name one of the "Teacher's Top 100 Books for Children" by the National Education Association in 2007.
The Seven Chinese Brothers is a classic Chinese folktale first written in the 1930s. Though it has been rewritten many times over the decades, the message of the story remains the same. The story tells of seven brothers (five in some versions of the retelling) that each have a power unique to themselves that they use to defeat an evil, powerful emperor. Though the emperor tries to kill each of the brothers at one point or another, the remaining brothers use their intelligence to outwit the emperor and save each at the last moment. The message of the book is about the power of family, and their ability to overcome even the greatest odds as long as they stay together. This was a WOW book choice for me because it not only incorporated Chinese history and culture into the story, but it also utilizes a great pattern of repetition that older students would be able to appreciate and predict as the book goes on.
This story would be particularly good for first and second grade, as the language may be too difficult for kindergarteners to understand. With a first or second grade class, teachers could have a read aloud with the book, and have the students attempt to predict which brother's power will be needed next in the story. Another activity could be having the students write their own version of the story, creating one or two characters with their own powers that they need to use to save one another.
The Seven Chinese Brothers is a Blue Ribbon book, and was name one of the "Teacher's Top 100 Books for Children" by the National Education Association in 2007.
April 3, 2023
For more bookish thoughts, see my blog: Craft-Cycle
A beautiful reimagining of the Han tale of The Seven Brothers.
This serves as a nice alternative to The Five Chinese Brothers with detailed illustrations and a full color pallet. In this version, the seven brothers learn that Emperor Ch'in Shih Huang is making people work day and night to repair a hole in the Great Wall. When one brother repairs the wall himself, the emperor fears he is too strong and sentences him to death. The others band together to outsmart the emperor.
Witty and fun. The beautiful and engaging artwork really makes this version shine.
The book opens with an Editor's Note that sets the story in a specific time period with information about the real Ch'in Shih Huang and the building of the Great Wall. Pairs well with The Seven Chinese Sisters in exploring siblings using their special talents to help one another.
An exciting read with narrow escapes and lively visuals. Nice themes of teamwork, helping others, and doing what's right.
A beautiful reimagining of the Han tale of The Seven Brothers.
This serves as a nice alternative to The Five Chinese Brothers with detailed illustrations and a full color pallet. In this version, the seven brothers learn that Emperor Ch'in Shih Huang is making people work day and night to repair a hole in the Great Wall. When one brother repairs the wall himself, the emperor fears he is too strong and sentences him to death. The others band together to outsmart the emperor.
Witty and fun. The beautiful and engaging artwork really makes this version shine.
The book opens with an Editor's Note that sets the story in a specific time period with information about the real Ch'in Shih Huang and the building of the Great Wall. Pairs well with The Seven Chinese Sisters in exploring siblings using their special talents to help one another.
An exciting read with narrow escapes and lively visuals. Nice themes of teamwork, helping others, and doing what's right.
October 27, 2016
1. This book has not received any awards.
2. Recommended for grades preschool through 3.
3. This book tells the story of seven brothers. Each of the brothers has a special supernatural power. The brothers use their powers together to defeat the powerful emperor.
4. As a child, my grandmother always read this book to me. I was always so interested and captivated by this book, and I think that it will be equally as interesting to children of all ages. The theme of this book is adventurous and there is room for a lot of discussion following the reading.
5. Possible in class uses:
-Having upper grade level children write their own story of different qualities that each member in their family has. Then the children can compare and contrast.
- Having children practice retelling sequencing of events.
2. Recommended for grades preschool through 3.
3. This book tells the story of seven brothers. Each of the brothers has a special supernatural power. The brothers use their powers together to defeat the powerful emperor.
4. As a child, my grandmother always read this book to me. I was always so interested and captivated by this book, and I think that it will be equally as interesting to children of all ages. The theme of this book is adventurous and there is room for a lot of discussion following the reading.
5. Possible in class uses:
-Having upper grade level children write their own story of different qualities that each member in their family has. Then the children can compare and contrast.
- Having children practice retelling sequencing of events.
January 20, 2024
The Seven Chinese Brothers is a book I used working with older elementary children to give them a look at a Chinese folktale and expose them to another culture as I worked with upper elementary age group.
It is a classic folktale about seven brothers that lived together and you couldn't tell them apart although each one had a special skill. It is set in the time of Emperor Ch'in Shin Huang, 259-210 BC. He united China and planned the Great Wall of China and in this story is the chied antagonist.
The illustrations were wonderful and I liked the introduction page that gave factual information on this period of Chinese history and the Great Wall.
It is a classic folktale about seven brothers that lived together and you couldn't tell them apart although each one had a special skill. It is set in the time of Emperor Ch'in Shin Huang, 259-210 BC. He united China and planned the Great Wall of China and in this story is the chied antagonist.
The illustrations were wonderful and I liked the introduction page that gave factual information on this period of Chinese history and the Great Wall.
January 27, 2024
I think a teacher or librarian read this to us in elementary school, and I loved it. When I saw it in a book order a short time later, I bought it; so it was one I owned and read many times as a child. I actually saved my copy into adulthood, but eventually donated it to a fundraiser in college when I no longer had room to store all my keepsakes in my student apartment. It popped into my head recently, and I immediately looked it up and found a cheap used copy. It was fun to read again, for nostalgia sake. This time I will hold on to it!
September 29, 2024
This is a wonderful story of seven brothers who look alike but have different seemingly magical abilities. When one of the brothers is arrested by the emperor, the others begin to try and figure out how to save him. One cries - and the tears fill the oceans and rivers and the country floods. As they each wait for the execution, the brothers change places and prevent themselves from being executed. It speaks to me about the talents that each person has - and in times of trouble people are strong enough to help each other.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 1, 2025
Recieved a copy when I graduated kindergarten. We were moving a bookshelf and I rediscovered it. Glad I did!
Beautiful art.
Simplistic yet hooking story.
Also really nice to see a depiction of brotherly love and all these men allowing themselves to cry.
You'd think they could have sent the fourth brother considering he wasn't bothered by the blades before; or, y'know, broken the last brother out of jail considering the guards suck. But that's not how this story format works, so I digress.
I do wonder if the story has any actual ties to Chinese fairytales.
Beautiful art.
Simplistic yet hooking story.
Also really nice to see a depiction of brotherly love and all these men allowing themselves to cry.
You'd think they could have sent the fourth brother considering he wasn't bothered by the blades before; or, y'know, broken the last brother out of jail considering the guards suck. But that's not how this story format works, so I digress.
I do wonder if the story has any actual ties to Chinese fairytales.
September 8, 2020
This book is based on a common Chinese folktale. Each of the seven brothers has a different super strength that allows them to outwit and overcome the Emperor who wants to execute the man he fears. We've read other variations of this fable. This one was very traditional and quite serious. The other version we came across, was a little more unbelievable and cartoony, which I think is probably better for the ages of my children (3 & 5).
December 29, 2020
A traditional Chinese folk tale of 7 brothers and how their individual super powers helped save them from 2 armies and the emperor.
My favorite moment is when the emperor decides to shoot arrows at a brother and they all decide to go and face death together.
It's interesting that the seventh brother's super power is basically a weakness (he cries big tears), but that weakness is what saves them in the end.
My favorite moment is when the emperor decides to shoot arrows at a brother and they all decide to go and face death together.
It's interesting that the seventh brother's super power is basically a weakness (he cries big tears), but that weakness is what saves them in the end.
January 4, 2022
This is one of my children's favorite stories. We've owned it for many years and I've happened on my children reading it on their own often. The story is well told with perfect repetition and variance, the tall-tale aspect is enjoyable, and the illustrations make it feel like I know the brothers and their world beyond the words.
At the beginning of the book the author discusses the emperor the story mentions and gives history of his time and place (and the real ending of his story).
At the beginning of the book the author discusses the emperor the story mentions and gives history of his time and place (and the real ending of his story).
November 27, 2022
Traditional Fantasy
Primary (2-3)
I really enjoy reading folktales from other cultures. When I think of folklore I think of my own culture and the classic stories and tales I grew up with, but there is so much soul and meaning in stories that come from other places around the world. Early Chinese Culture is such a beautiful one and I think is represented wonderfully through the art and storytelling of this tale. Teamwork and determination help the brothers to succeed, even with the fear of the emperor wanting them dead!
Primary (2-3)
I really enjoy reading folktales from other cultures. When I think of folklore I think of my own culture and the classic stories and tales I grew up with, but there is so much soul and meaning in stories that come from other places around the world. Early Chinese Culture is such a beautiful one and I think is represented wonderfully through the art and storytelling of this tale. Teamwork and determination help the brothers to succeed, even with the fear of the emperor wanting them dead!
February 25, 2025
I belive I read this when I was growing up because the cover art looked familiar. My husband however, even remembered the whole story! Artwork is good, and the story is different and interesting. I like that it has paragraphs for text, and a little richer story. Another thing I like is that each brother was strong and unique in his own right but that as siblings/family they all needed one another. A lesson that is great for kids.
February 21, 2017
I loved this book as a child and being able to say to my daughter that I had read this book when I was her age gave us both a little thrill. (What can I say, we're easily excited.) Fortunately it's still a classic and held up to my memories nor did it include any embarrassing or politically incorrect wording. (Whew!)
May 15, 2017
A good retelling of the folk tale. I wish the illustrations had made the exchange of brothers more obvious: maybe they could have different colored clothing or hair ties?
It was also confusing that the emperor's palace was 100 miles away but every night, a brother travels there to switch places with his captured brother. I'm not sure if this was part of the original telling or not though.
It was also confusing that the emperor's palace was 100 miles away but every night, a brother travels there to switch places with his captured brother. I'm not sure if this was part of the original telling or not though.
December 11, 2017
i think the seven chinese brother was a good book because they had a lot of little and big details about the scence. They were making the powers strict and the powers the author has given them makes sense and the book was a fun and very desciptive. But the one thing i didn't like about the book was that all the brothers got punished and didn't even have a good ending but it was still a good book.
January 11, 2018
Chinese tall tale. Students enjoy making predictions about each new fantastical ability that the next brother will have to help solve each new problem. The editor’s note about historical connections with the cruel emperor and the treatment of the workers building The Great Wall of China is interesting.
March 6, 2019
Un simple gesto despierta la osadía tiranía de un emperador que trata de eliminar a un hombre inocente de su imperio. Solo que este hombre tiene como hermanos a los increíbles de aquella época. Pretenciosa y llena de una adorable e ingenua magia, narrada con unas ilustraciones de cómic que la relevan aún más.
Atípica. Con un poco más de contexto histórico, hubiese muerto de felicidad.
Atípica. Con un poco más de contexto histórico, hubiese muerto de felicidad.
June 16, 2022
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Grade: 2-3
This is an awesome book. I think this book is more geared towards male readers. I enjoyed when I was kid and I still enjoy it now. I believe this is more of a book to be a staple in a classroom rather a book teach out of. It doesn’t have much of a moral, but it has good illustrations and a good story.
Grade: 2-3
This is an awesome book. I think this book is more geared towards male readers. I enjoyed when I was kid and I still enjoy it now. I believe this is more of a book to be a staple in a classroom rather a book teach out of. It doesn’t have much of a moral, but it has good illustrations and a good story.
July 19, 2017
I hate to rate a DNF book, but, I do not understand how this book is rated for pre-k when it talks about what it does. We quit when we got to where the emperor wanted to execute one of the brothers by chopping off his head...
November 27, 2018
This is a very good book about brothers who look out for one another and take care of each their when faced with trouble. They wanted to make sure the others were safe and did everything they could to make sure they stayed safe.
July 3, 2020
A folktale taking place during the Han dynasty (I think). The emperor was a real person, though the story about the brothers is made up. The illustrations are beautiful watercolor paintings recreating this time period. A good one to connect to ancient history!
July 10, 2017
Loved this book! It was imaginative & funny and the brothers were so faithful to each other, knew they could depend on each other, & worked together as a team.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews