The Story about Ping (Reading Railroad Books)

Customer Rating:
Summary: A Classic
Comment: This book was handed down to me from a neighbor when I was a child 35+ years ago. It was a favorite of mine and I saved it for many years. Now my 2 year old can recite it almost word for word and we read it almost every day. I'm finally breaking down and buying a new copy since well-loved is an understatement for the condition of ours. It's a lovely story about family and I hope my daughter will be reading it to her children someday.

Customer Rating:
Summary: An unforgettable classic from another era
Comment: A great story which teaches a lesson coupled with beautiful and stylish illustrations render this a classic. It's also a wonderful snapshot of another era, both in its content and presentation. They literally don't write them like this anymore.

I have a hard time seeing the racism or the brutality some complain about. My copy shows a 1933 copyright and I seriously doubt that river life on long stretches of the Yangtze river was a whole lot different than it was presented in the book, at least when presented at a simplified level for a children's book. The illustration is stylish and the unique facial features of Asian people are given a stylized representation. It's neither crass or insulting, nor is it the bland and ambiguous facial features contemporary illustrators draw in deference to racial zealots.

I think the story teaches important life lessons about choices, consequences and risk, and there are many children's books with hunting or catching food elemental to their story.

Customer Rating:
Summary: Can't see what the fuss is all about.
Comment: I think most reviewers are a little hyper about something I just don't get. Yes it's quite clearly a good book for kids, and the analogy of Packet InterNet Groper is clever, but this reviewer gives it average mark.

Customer Rating:
Summary: The Story About Ping
Comment: "The Story About Ping" is a book I have read to my children and now my grandchildren. It is a simple but fun tale about a small duck who gets separated from his family. In watching the events that occur to Ping before he is reunited with his family, we see many real life elements of the Chinese culture. This is a great book that could lead to a discussion about the importance and love of all family members, as well as the historical and cultural past of China.

Customer Rating:
Summary: Ping - an old story still as popular today
Comment: I purchased this book because I had lost the school library's copy and it was my husband's favourite book as a child. When it arrived I read it to every class from Kindergarten to year six and they all loved it. It was a good lead into the Beijing Games but it also led into a study of cormorants, river dwelling, mapping,relationships and counting.I can highly recommend this ageless story.