Grandfather Tang's Story

( 3 )

Overview

"Drawing on a Chinese form of storytelling with seven shapes cut from a square of paper, Tompert recounts the tale of two fox fairies. Parker's pen-and-watercolor art adds drama, while the tangram insets will motivate children to try their own versions."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books.

Grandfather tells a story about shape-changing fox fairies who try to best each other until a hunter brings danger to both of them.

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More About This Book

Overview

"Drawing on a Chinese form of storytelling with seven shapes cut from a square of paper, Tompert recounts the tale of two fox fairies. Parker's pen-and-watercolor art adds drama, while the tangram insets will motivate children to try their own versions."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books.

Grandfather tells a story about shape-changing fox fairies who try to best each other until a hunter brings danger to both of them.

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Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly
Here's a folktale with a twist: Tompert uses tangrams, a traditional ``visual aid'' employed by Chinese storytellers, to spin a tale about two shape-changing fox fairies. Seven ``tans'' standard-sized pieces of a square are arranged and rearranged to represent various characters in the story. The fox fairies vie to outdo each other--the first one becomes a rabbit, the other a dog who chases him, and so on--but when the two chase each other right into danger, they finally have to set their competition aside and pull together. Parker's graceful, impressionistic illustrations have a gentle Oriental flavor, and the constantly changing tangram configurations add a novel touch. A traceable tangram is provided at the end for do-it-yourselfers. Ages 3-7. Apr.
Children's Literature - Jan Lieberman
Little Soo and her grandfather make up a series of stories about two fox fairies who can change their shapes. Of course, they use tangrams to tell these tales. 1997 (orig.
Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot
Little Soo and Grandfather Tang shift the shapes of their tangrams to tell a story of the magical fox fairies. These fairies challenge each other to a shape changing game. Kids interested in tangrams may find this intriguing.
School Library Journal
K-Gr 4-- Two competitive fox fairies go through rapid physical transformations until a hunter's arrow reminds them of their true friendship. This original tangram tale is framed by the loving relationship between a grandfather and granddaughter as they share the story under the shade of an old tree, and culminates in a tangram of an old man and a girl likewise resting. Tangrams, ancient Chinese puzzles in which a square is cut into seven traditional pieces (each called a tan), are arranged into patterns used to help tell the story. Parker's watercolor washes complement the text, adding energy and tension, as well as evoking oriental brushwork technique. However, the text is strong enough to stand on its own, and will be valued by storytellers and listeners alike. --Carolyn Noah, Worcester Public Library, MA
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780517885581
  • Publisher: Random House Children's Books
  • Publication date: 8/28/1997
  • Edition description: Reprint
  • Pages: 32
  • Sales rank: 59,089
  • Age range: 3 - 7 Years
  • Product dimensions: 7.78 (w) x 9.89 (h) x 0.11 (d)

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 5
( 3 )
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Sort by: Showing all of 3 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted June 7, 2007

    5 triangles, a square and a rhomboid to tell a tale

    This book, to me, tells how 'groups' can have problems amongst themselves, but when outside trouble comes, they can come together and stand their ground. A beautifully written tale using foxes that can change shape and do much more. I and my child were fascinated.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted July 8, 2001

    Grandfather Tang's Story, a great learning tool!

    Grandfather Tang tells a tale of the 'fox faires' to his granddaughter. The two foxes transform themselves into many different animals. As Grandfather Tang tells the story to his granddaughter, he uses tangram pieces to construct the shapes of these animals. Within the pages of the book there are illustrations of each animal along with the shapes Grandfather Tang forms with the tangram pieces. I feel that this book would be a great tool in a mathematics classroom. Children would want to explore the tangram pieces and construct the shapes on their own.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 16, 2000

    TOUT SIMPLEMENT MERVEILLEUX!

    Ce livre très bien illustré nous présente l´histoire d´une amitié que mon fils de 6 ans a beaucoup aimé. L´utilisation du tangram l´a enchanté. Il a ainsi pu participer activement à la lecture du livre.

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