Episode 144 - The Five Chinese Brothers

"Bring me a bad book. Like, a really good bad book." So Kate asked Betsy. Well, we don't want to give anything away but Betsy may have hit on something. If you were born in the late 70s or early 80s, the odds are good that somebody you know read it to you. And this all ties in quite closely to current discussions of picture books with racist elements that sit blithely on shelves in children's rooms anywhere. Show Notes: In case you've ever wondered what this show's recording set-up looks like, Drew, the resident Penguinologist, put together this quickie video on a whim. It's haphazard but fun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP3f_UtbXK0 While we appreciate that The Book Hound took the time to draw a connection between the Dionne quintuplets and the publication of this book, the assertion that, "While it is possible to conclude the illustrations in The Five Chinese Brothers are ethnic stereotypes, although not everyone agrees with that, it is impossible to make a case that the text contains or implies a racist premise, unless one misreads the first sentence," is an idea that holds no water: https://thebookhound.com/2018/07/31/when-looking-alike-is-not-racism-the-five-chinese-brothers-the-dionne-quintuplets/ It is not difficult to find the Weston Woods/Scholastic Teacher's Guide for this book. Note what it says at the end: "Other book based films and videos about Chinese culture are available from Weston Woods. These include: THE STORY ABOUT PING by Marjorie Flack TIKKI TIKKI TEMBO written by Arlene Mosel and illustrated by Blair Lent". Just . . . . wow. http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/westonwoods/study_guides/the_five_chinese_brothers.pdf Finally, Betsy was able to track down the video of the boy reading Owl Babies to actual baby owls: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-i33i2VDsRU For the full Show Notes please visit: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2020/07/13/fuse-8-n-kate-the-five-chinese-brothers-by-claire-huchet-bishop-and-kurt-wiese/