Customer Reviews
Lovely Story with Georgous Illustrations 
2008-01-28
Cinderella stories are practically a dime a dozen...they can be found in practically every culture known to man and are amoung the most frequently read to young children. So what makes Yeh-Shen worth reading...well, it's retold by Louie with it's origins in China and is probably based on the oldest known version of Cinderella in existence. Louie writes with few words, but manages to tell the story eloquently and in a way that is appealing to both children and adults. Additionally, Young's illustrations are exquisite and really evoke a feeling of ancient China. This story includes all of the classic elements that we Westerners are familiar with...the evil step mother, an unattractive step-sister, an emperor looking for a bride, the wayward slipper (though this one is golden, not glass)...but it also has its differences. In place of the fairy god-mother we are used to, there is a kindly old man who offers sage advice to Yeh-Shen (and he appears once about midway thought the story) and of course, there is the magical fish who makes Yeh-Shen's life bearable and makes her dreams come true in the end. I love that the author didn't sanitize the ending and that the reader is told the fate of the cruel and mean-spirited step-mother and sister. It was done in such a way that I don't think the young children this books is geared toward would be at all disturbed...plus it is in keeping with what is considered the traditional ending for most fairy tales (before they were sanitized for modern times)...the evil and unjust get what they deserve and I think that's the perfect ending! I give Yeh-Shen 5 stars, it's a lovely tale that is beautifully illustrated, it would make a lovely addition to any library.
more realistic cinderella 2007-01-05
Bought this for my 6-yo niece, who reads very well. It's a great version of the Cinderella story, set in China. Instead of fairies and magic, the story is woven with events that could actually happen. (Makes me wonder if it inspired Cinderella, or vice versa.) Loved it, and so does my niece!
Yeh-Shen 2005-10-26
Both of my children have had this book read to them at school and loved it. We had to own it.
china cinderella 
2005-08-06
did not liked the book, I thought the pictures were going to be brighter.Excellent delivery.
Not appropriate for young children 
2003-10-11
I am very enthusiastic about exposing my children to different cultures and ideas, and when I saw this book and read the reviews on Amazon, I was excited to get it for my girls. When the book arrived, I read it immediately. The story and the pictures are beautiful. I liked everything until the very last sentence of the book -- I was very surprised to read that Yeh-Shen's stepmother and stepsister were "crushed to death in a shower of flying stones." Although I understand that this may be part of the original story, I am giving this book one star because it is supposed to be appropriate for children 4-8. I don't believe, with such a violent and disturbing ending, that it is appropriate for this age group.
A great book 2002-06-11
"A misty dreamlike air. A worthwhile addition to picture-book collections."-- Booklist. A Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Award Winner. An ALA Notable Children's Book. A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year. An IRA Children's Choice. An IRA Teachers' Choice. Full color.
One of the best versions of Cinderella 2001-08-05
In almost every culture, parents tell children a story that resembles the European Cinderella. Scholars have collected more than 500 versions of the story. In the past couple of decades a lot of these multicultural variations on Cinderella have been turned into children's picture books. The familiar story gives kids a great introduction to people of the world. Several of these books are very good, but two are exceptional. One is John Steptoe's "Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters," an African version of the story. The other is this one.
"Yeh-Shen," a Chinese version of the tale almost a thousand years older than the earliest known European version, contains many familiar details - a poor over-worked girl, a wicked stepmother and stepsister, a magical helper, a king in search of a wife, and a lost shoe. But while Cinderella is simply handed gifts from her fairy godmother, Yeh-Shen earns her wishes through kindness to a magic fish. This one change makes a big difference in the ethical tone of the book. It also makes the reader feel much more sympathetic toward Yeh-Shen, who seems to deserve every bit of good fortune she gets.
The illustrations greatly add to the book's charm. Ed Young's style is striking and unique. There's a misty, ethereal quality to his art that makes everything look as if it were taking place in a dream - which is just perfect for the book.
THE OLDEST VERSION OF CINDERELLA 1999-11-23
This is the oldest known version of Cinderella. It dates back to 9BC China. Having taught a unit on the history of Cinderella to my class every year around Holiday time, I'm pleased to finally have a copy of the book -- the copy from the Minneapolis Public Library is missing -- because it teaches children that not every version is about pumpkin coaches and glass slippers. Beautifully illustrated by Ed Young, the theme of the fish/fairy godmother character plays throughout the book.
Enjoy this version, along with Shirley Chimo's Egyptian and Korean Cinderellas, The Turkey Girl, The Rough Face Girl, Sootface, and of course, the old classic versions.
This book is an excellent addition to your multicultural children's collection!
