The Lotus Seed

As I look at this book through the eyes or ears of a child, I could easily become baffled about what this book is about. In order to understand the meaning behind the text, I would have to know more than I am given by the author. I would have to know about the Chinese culture in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, who Emperor's were and what were their powers, and what events led to the end of the Emperor's reign. Further, I would have to know what a lotus is and why it is so magical. With all of that safely in my mind, I could then begin to read a very quiet, spare, and thoughtful book about another time and another place. A book that could be called historical fiction, but is so much more than that sterile label. I highly recommend this book but only if you do some prep work before opening the cover.

Great story lovely drawings!

A magnificent children's book that sums up the Vietnamese 20th century experience. I'm going to read this to my so so he understands where he comes from.

Great condition

I use this book as part of my curriculum to teach comprehension strategies. This book works well for questioning before, during, and after the story. There is an authors note that will help answer some of the generated questions. The story of a young woman having to leave vietnam when war breaks out would also go nicely with a social studies unit on immigration. Using this book helps to build a multi cultural classroom. I sometimes have Vietnamese students who's families have a similar story. Its nice for children to see themselves represented in books.

Great for teaching about refugee experiences

I use this book to talk about multiple perspectives in history with my class. It has lovely pictures and a good story line.

This is an excellent book for teaching reading. It is one of those books you can call a "real book" It was written with children in mind. The illustrations are beautifully done and very naturally help the young reader create meaning.

Goods as described. Fast shipping. Highly recommend

I like this story for it's complexity. The setting speaks to the struggle of immigrants leaving their culture, beginning again and struggling to hold onto cultural values.

I wanted to buy my child a book on Ho Chi Minh (and for use in my ESL classroom) and when I searched for one this book came up. It was cheap, so I ordered it. Reading it with my child, I was very disappointed. I wanted a book that honestly addressed the history of Vietnam. From the description, I thought it would be critical of the French colonial project in Vietnam and critical of the institution of the emperor, suggesting that the emperor turned over his throne to Ho Chi Minh because his people wanted freedom. There are two serious problems. First, the actual story is much too sympathetic to the emperor (anti-democracy) and the author's note misrepresents the history of the Vietnam War portraying the U.S. as offering assistance to the Vietnamese instead of dividing their nation, installing a brutal dictator, and invading the nation when the Vietnamese resisted the dictator. All in all, very disappointing. I will have to look elsewhere for a book for my child that is respectful of the Vietnamese people instead of this pro-US propaganda garbage.

中学の英語検定教科書 "One World Eｎglish Course 3" のReadingに掲載されているお話の原本です。ベトナム難民のお話です。日本人画家による挿絵がお話をより一層深くしています。教科書で読まれた方はぜひこちらもお勧めです。