Bamboo

by Paul Yee, Shaoli Wang (Illustrations)

Simply Read Books

Genres: Picture Books, Family

32 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2005

About the author

Paul Yee never planned to be an author but got published in 1983 and followed up with over twenty books in his area of obsession: Chinese immigrants to North America. He wrote mostly for young readers, from picture books to Young Adult fiction, as well as histories for everyone. His university degrees in history, plus working as an archivist, plunged him into researching the past. His work has been translated into French and Chinese, and used in animated films as well as stage plays. Born in small-town prairie Canada, he grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia, but Toronto tempted him away from that west coast paradise in 1988.

Reviews

[Mala Ashok · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple tale where good triumphs over evil. It is about Bamboo a simple farmer and his peasant wife who is beautiful and good. Ming finds help against her evil sister-in-law from a mysterious force. It is a typical tale with a happy ending.

[Darlene Ivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fable where the wife of one brother causes trouble for the family of another brother. The second wife is calm, positive, and hardworking and that family ultimately succeeds thanks to her character and to the bamboo forest that grew from seedlings from a wedding present. A well-told tale.

[Teddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a Chinese village, a small farmer, Bamboo meets and falls in love with Ming, a peasant girl. Soon after they are married, Bamboo goes to the New World to make more money. While he is gone, Jin, Ming's sister-in-law makes life miserable for her. Ming goes on anyway and tries to make the best of it. Then Bamboo's ship sinks on the way home and he is said to be dead.

There is much more to it and is a delightful story. The pictures are amazing and has a lot of detail. I just question if the story is really that good for very little children. With the adult issues going on. I recommend you read it yourself first and then decide if it's okay for your little ones.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book, though parts of it can be quite stereotypical. It follows a Chinese husband and wife and their life farming. Some of the drawings and ideas portrayed in the book appear to be very stereotypical to me, but it could be a good book to read and discuss fairness, kindness, and forgiveness.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the different culture of this story can be rough for young children to understand.

[Shelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was moved by the kindness and patience as well as the hard work of Ming in this story.

[Kiddo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kiddo asked for this to be read repeatedly. There were some fun and magical parts but also some mean behavior.