Gods and Goddesses of Ancient China

by Leonard Everett Fisher

The people of ancient China believed in countless deities who brought good fortune or bad luck; good health, wealth, and happiness; success or failure to every aspect of life. Here are sixteen of these towering figures: their accomplishments, their deeds, their powers, and how they reflected the lives and activities of the mortals on Earth.

Genres: Mythology, History, Nonfiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2003

Reviews

[Juliet]

MYTH- (Additional choice)
Target audience: late elementary- middle school

Bold, bright colors with contrasting borders fill each page of this picture book. On the left is a painted depiction of the god or goddess and on the right is their Chinese name and an English description. The paintings are lively. The font of the text is large but the descriptions of the gods and goddesses don't quite capture any drama of the tale; they are matter of fact and dry. This is a picture reference book that doesn't know who its audience is. Children might find a few fun facts but will not be left with any sense of cultural knowledge. The introduction gives some context that there are many gods and goddess that were worshipped separately and were thought to have walked the earth with humans. Included at end of the book is a bibliography and pronunciation guide.

[Marsha]

Pretty simple, short stories about the most important Chinese gods/goddesses. I think it's a good intro and I actually like the pictures better than the stories. Wish the stories had some original text...but it's an OK book. Hope I can find something better but this will be better than nothing.

[Kelsey]

Good for a very brief overview of Chinese mythology.