We know the idea of a princess helplessly waiting to be rescued is outdated, but it wasn’t until I bought a set of classic fairy tales and started reading them to my daughter that the underlying disturbing nature of these stories really began to reveal themselves.
As I read her the Usborne version of Snow White, it occurred to me that the prince stumbled upon a glass casket in the middle of the forest, and instead of moving along or calling the authorities as a normal person would, he decided to open the casket and kiss the corpse of a complete stranger inside. He didn’t know whether or not she was dead, and of what causes…
Then I read her Sleeping Beauty and got to the page where the prince is basically guilty of breaking and entering – plus a whole lot more – when he sneaks into a princess’s bedroom and kisses her without consent while she’s sleeping. And just like that, one of my favorite childhood Disney movies began to feel more like an episode of Criminal Minds.
Fairy tales should teach children life lessons. As the mom of a little girl, I don’t want my daughter growing up believing that as long as she’s pretty and nice, a boy will come along and take care of her for the rest of her life.
With that said, here are a few Chinese folktales that introduce local culture to children and teach them valuable life lessons by sending the right message.
Cheeky Monkey by Xue Lin
This book is a light-hearted story about the Monkey King from Journey to the West, and its moral is all about working hard. The story of the mischievous but faithful Monkey King is one that generations of Chinese have grown up with, and when Journey to the West appeared on my high school’s World Literature reading list, it was a nostalgic throwback to my childhood bedtime stores.
The Great Race: The Story of the Chinese Zodiac by Ling and Eric Lee
This is a delightful origin story for the Chinese zodiac animals and their order, which is based on a race organized by the ancient Jade Emperor. This particular version is written in English with pinyin and simplified Chinese, which is perfect for kids learning to read.
The New Year Beast by Xue Lin
This colorful picture book explains the traditions behind Chinese New Year, and, most importantly, why we celebrate it. Written clearly and accessibly, it helps children understand the meaning behind the festivities and introduces them to the mythical beasts of New Year.
The Story of Wan-Nian’s Calendar by Zue Lin
This bilingual version tells the story of how Wan-Nian – aka the Chinese Lunar calendar – was created. It’s filled with illustrations that are perfect for teaching kids about local culture.
The Lost Horse: A Chinese Folk Tale by Ed Young
This story imparts the age-old wisdom of optimism and the importance of looking on the brighter side of life. In fact, sometimes, what appears to be bad luck might actually be good luck in disguise.
The Greatest Treasure by Demi
This is a Chinese folktale about a rich man who is obsessed with his money, and a poor, humble flute player. However, when the rich man gives the poor man a bag of gold coins to distract him from playing his flute, the result is an interesting lesson about money, happiness, and what’s most important in life.
Fa Mulan by Robert D. San Souci
The story of Mulan started as a ballad that dates back to around 420 A.D. This is the story that inspired Disney’s movies, but unlike Disney, there’s no Mooshu the talking dragon. Rather, this is a simplified version for children and one of my favorite stories for young girls to listen to.
KEEP READING: Discovering Commercial Kids Libraries In Beijing
Sources: www.whatdowedoallday.com/chinese-folktales-for-kids/, www.booktrust.org.uk/news-and-features/features/2018/february/9-brilliant-stories-for-children-celebrating-chinese-culture/
Images: Courtesy of publishers
