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Chen Ping and His Magic Axe
After losing his axe, Chen Ping encounters a magical old man who offers Chen first a silver axe, then a gold one, but he is not tempted and will only accept his own axe from the old man
32 pages, Library Binding
First published June 1, 1987
About the author
Demi
183 books178 followersDemi (September 2, 1942) born Charlotte Dumaresq Hunt, is an award-winning children’s book author and illustrator. During her career she has published over 300 titles.
Demi was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She is the great-grand daughter of the American painter William Morris Hunt, and the great-grand niece of architect Richard Morris Hunt. Demi earned her nickname as a young child when her father started calling her demi because she was half the size of her sister.
She studied art at Instituto Allende, Mexico, and with Sister Corita at the Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles. She was a Fulbright scholar at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India where she received her Master’s degree.
Demi is known for her biographies for spiritual figures including Buddha, Krishna, Lao Tzu, Jesus, Mary (mother of Jesus), Muhammad, Rumi, Francis of Assisi, Gandhi, and the Dalai Lama.
In 1990, Demi and her husband Tze-si “Jesse” Huang represented the United States at the First Children’s International Book Conference in Beijing.
Source: Wikipedia
Demi was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She is the great-grand daughter of the American painter William Morris Hunt, and the great-grand niece of architect Richard Morris Hunt. Demi earned her nickname as a young child when her father started calling her demi because she was half the size of her sister.
She studied art at Instituto Allende, Mexico, and with Sister Corita at the Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles. She was a Fulbright scholar at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India where she received her Master’s degree.
Demi is known for her biographies for spiritual figures including Buddha, Krishna, Lao Tzu, Jesus, Mary (mother of Jesus), Muhammad, Rumi, Francis of Assisi, Gandhi, and the Dalai Lama.
In 1990, Demi and her husband Tze-si “Jesse” Huang represented the United States at the First Children’s International Book Conference in Beijing.
Source: Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 18, 2018
A lovely, satisfying story in which good is rewarded and greed is punished.
2nd reading (2018) I had forgotten I'd read this and upped my rating from 3 to 4 stars. I guess it was more significant to me this time around. I hate to admit it, but it is very satisfying to see wickedness punished in folktales the way that it often is.
2nd reading (2018) I had forgotten I'd read this and upped my rating from 3 to 4 stars. I guess it was more significant to me this time around. I hate to admit it, but it is very satisfying to see wickedness punished in folktales the way that it often is.
April 5, 2025
Humble and hardworking, young Chen Ping did everything his greedy employer Wing Fat asked of him. Up in the mountains to cut wood one day, he drops his axe into a rushing stream, and dismayed at this loss, sits down and begins to weep. Aided by an old man who suddenly appear, Chen Ping regains his axe, after first disclaiming any ownership of the silver and golden axes offered to him. Rewarded for his honesty with a magical axe that does most of his work for him, the young boy shares the story with his employer, who sets out to trick the old man and win the golden axe, only to meet a very different fate...
Having enjoyed a number of other folk and fairy-tales retold and/or illustrated by Demi, I picked up Chen Ping and His Magic Axe with anticipation, and was not disappointed. The story itself is a classic tale about the rewards of honesty, and the punishment of greed, while the artwork was delicately appealing. The style feels somewhat less ornate than other books from this creator that I have encountered, although the decorative motifs are still detailed, and rich colors (particularly red) are used. Perhaps the difference is that there is more white on the page here, than in some later titles (this one was published in 1987), and that the book itself has smaller dimensions. In any case, the result was charming. The story itself felt familiar—I think I have encountered a similar tale before, with a female figure (a fairy? or a goddess?) acting the role of helper—although I can't quite place it. I wish Demi had given her source for the story, so I could track down other tellings, but leaving aside that critique I would recommend this one to young folklore enthusiasts, and to anyone seeking traditional Chinese tales.
Having enjoyed a number of other folk and fairy-tales retold and/or illustrated by Demi, I picked up Chen Ping and His Magic Axe with anticipation, and was not disappointed. The story itself is a classic tale about the rewards of honesty, and the punishment of greed, while the artwork was delicately appealing. The style feels somewhat less ornate than other books from this creator that I have encountered, although the decorative motifs are still detailed, and rich colors (particularly red) are used. Perhaps the difference is that there is more white on the page here, than in some later titles (this one was published in 1987), and that the book itself has smaller dimensions. In any case, the result was charming. The story itself felt familiar—I think I have encountered a similar tale before, with a female figure (a fairy? or a goddess?) acting the role of helper—although I can't quite place it. I wish Demi had given her source for the story, so I could track down other tellings, but leaving aside that critique I would recommend this one to young folklore enthusiasts, and to anyone seeking traditional Chinese tales.
June 22, 2013
Once upon a time in China there was a poor boy named Chen Ping, who worked for a rich man. Although he did whatever was asked of him, Chen Ping could never satisfy the rich man. One day on his way to cut wood, Chen Ping accidentally dropped his axe from a bridge, and it fell into the river far below. How will he be able to chop wood without his axe?
The best way for a Westerner to understand Chinese folktales is to read a great many of them. One at a time they might seem strange to Western eyes, and the folktale motifs are also unfamiliar. This tale is a classic, and very popular. Think of the concept of yin and yang, and the need to maintain balance in the universe. In Chinese lore, the phoenix and the dragon keep the universe in order, and reason prevails.
Demi's delicate illustrations add a lovely dimension to this old folktale. Each view of the sky shows a beautiful phoenix watching over Chen Ping, and views of the water show drawings of dragons swirling in the splashing waves and rapids. Ages 4-10.
The best way for a Westerner to understand Chinese folktales is to read a great many of them. One at a time they might seem strange to Western eyes, and the folktale motifs are also unfamiliar. This tale is a classic, and very popular. Think of the concept of yin and yang, and the need to maintain balance in the universe. In Chinese lore, the phoenix and the dragon keep the universe in order, and reason prevails.
Demi's delicate illustrations add a lovely dimension to this old folktale. Each view of the sky shows a beautiful phoenix watching over Chen Ping, and views of the water show drawings of dragons swirling in the splashing waves and rapids. Ages 4-10.
January 22, 2012
I did not connect or even really enjoy this book. It is not that the story is bad or the illistartions are awful I just found the plot very dull and the style of writting not very intrsting. The Idea could have potentialy, and probably has been, a very exciting story to tell, but this picture book did not do this legend any justice. This was boring to read and I would not recomend this as a book to read.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews