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Demi

The Empty Pot Kindle Edition

by Demi (Author, Illustrator) Format: Kindle Edition

1,001 ratings

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The Empty Pot is Demi's beloved picture book about an honest schoolboy

A long time ago in China there was a boy named Ping who loved flowers. Anything he planted burst into bloom.

The Emperor loved flowers too. When it was time to choose an heir, he gave a flower seed to each child in the kingdom. "Whoever can show me their best in a year's time," he proclaimed, "shall succeed me to the throne!"

Ping plants his seed and tends it every day. But month after month passes, and nothing grows. When spring comes, Ping must go to the Emperor with nothing but an empty pot.

Demi's exquisite art and beautifully simple text show how Ping's embarrassing failure is turned triumphant in this satisfying tale of honesty rewarded.

An IRA-CBC Children's Choice.
An American Bookseller "Pick of the Lists."

Reading age

4 - 8 years
Print length

32 pages
Language

English
Grade level

Preschool - 3
Lexile measure

630L
Publisher

Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication date

October 16, 2007
Page Flip

Not Enabled
Word Wise

Not Enabled
Enhanced typesetting

Not Enabled
ISBN-13

978-0805012170
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“When the Chinese Emperor announces an unusual test to choose an heir--the child who raises the best flowers from a seed given by the Emperor will be his successor--Ping, unaccountably, is unable to get his seed to sprout. . . . A lovely story, well told and most attractively presented.” ―Kirkus Reviews, pointer

“A beautifully crafted book that will be enjoyed as much for the richness of its illustrations as the simplicity of its story.” ―School Library Journal

--This text refers to the paperback edition.

About the Author

Demi is the author and illustrator of many children's books, including Firebird, Buddha, The Dalai Lama and The Dragon's Tale. Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, she lives in Carnation, Washington.

--This text refers to the paperback edition.

ASIN : B00BY5QYBE
Publisher : Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); 1st edition (October 16, 2007)
Publication date : October 16, 2007
Language : English
File size : 4518 KB
Text-to-Speech : Not enabled
Enhanced typesetting : Not Enabled
X-Ray : Not Enabled
Word Wise : Not Enabled
Print length : 32 pages
Lending : Not Enabled

Best Sellers Rank: #212,270 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #27 in Children's Explore Asia Fiction
- #67 in Children's Multicultural Folk Tales
- #225 in Children's Books on Values

Customer Reviews:
1,001 ratings

Customer reviews

5 star		92%
4 star		5%
3 star		2%
2 star		1%
1 star		1%

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Top reviews from the United States

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A beautiful book with wonderful illustrations. I think the core value of the book is a vital one and is important to learn.

Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2015

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A friend of mine told me about this book and I was immediately taken with the story. I love the core point of personal integrity, sincere effort, and honesty in the story. I think that the way the story twists and makes its point at the end is powerful and will stick with its target audience. Heck, it will stick with me. But then I was already taken with those values a half century ago. When I see so many young people willing to cheat to “get ahead” and the idea that the ends justify the means or that getting your agenda implemented “by any means necessary” seems justified, well, I am horrified. This book makes the opposite and more traditional point. I think the traditional value has a longer term importance where the short term getting it all now seems attractive to some in the present, it yields a toxic fruit.

The illustrations for the story are also beautiful and add to the interest children will have in reading the book. This is a story an adult can read with a child many times without wanting to beat their head against the wall, unlike so many children’s books that quickly become torture to read over and over and over again.

I bought several copies for my grandkids and will keep buying them as new grandkids come along. And I will likely give it to other children for gifts, as well. I think it is that good.

Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Saline, MI

25 people found this helpful

Helpful

Linda

A PARABLE FOR WHAT IS IMPORTANT IN LIFE!

Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2017

Verified Purchase

I heard about this beautiful story in another book called, Golden, by Joni Hilton. I love children's picture storybooks so I was curious and checked it out. I love it's wonderful message of honesty and integrity. It's a parable for what is truly important in life! I not only bought the kindle version for myself, I bought a hardcover copy to give as a gift. It is marketed for ages 4-8, but it's also for those who are young at heart, and anyone who loves books!

Note: The kindle version of any picture book is never going to be as nice as the hardcover copy. But it's still nice to have because it's always with you, and easy to share from an iPad. You just have to learn how to "click" the words on the very first page to enlarge them—in this case, the dedication—and then swipe each page after that to enlarge the rest of the text.

"You did your best, and your best is good enough to present to the Emperor." —Demi, The Empty Pot

8 people found this helpful

Helpful

Good message, just ok images

Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2019

Verified Purchase

The message of this story is about telling the truth. I loved how that message was so clearly demonstrated. I personally did not like the images simply because the young kids I read this too had trouble connecting to those images. The images are an ancient Chinese style done on fans. The images look like they came out of a museum, not a kids book. It is good fir kids to be exposed to other cultures and their artwork etc, but I just felt the images did not connect to the 5-6 year olds.

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

Luchi1012

TEACHES ABOUT HONESTY AND INTEGRITY--LOVELY BOOK

Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2017

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LOVE THIS BOOK! My student were exposed to this charming tale when I taught second grade. It was in one of our texts. Now the grandkids' school chose it for their Character Trait on Integrity. Beautiful, charming, meaningful story of a little boy faced with a choice on whether to be honest or not, in the face of competition. Beautiful art. My two (ages 8 and 6) love it; I love it. Cute story, great art, engaging story, great moral to the story.

8 people found this helpful

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D. Reeves

Great message about putting your best efforts in

Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2021

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I LOVE this book. My aunt bought it for me when I was a kid and now I am buying it for her granddaughter! It is such a great lesson about ALWAYS trying your best and being true to yourself and you will come out on top! Have read this in may classrooms!

2 people found this helpful

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MJO

This story is a gem for explaining what honesty is...

Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2016

Verified Purchase

This a delightfully easy story to read, the word to picture ration is wonderful even for your most impatient listener, the pictures are interesting to look at with many little rewards for the interested viewer. The story is the gem, giving a great opportunity to discuss what honesty and integrity and honor are. Loved this story, I will be looking to get copies for gifts. Totally recommend 100% and receive no discount for our review or with our purchase, but you're welcome to leave feedback if this was helpful to you.

7 people found this helpful

Helpful

Gigi

Great Story....So So Illustrations

Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2020

Verified Purchase

A friend recommended this book. She said it is her girls' favorite. I really liked the story but the illustrations were disappointing. Still, the message is strong enough to carry the book. Read it. It is an important lesson in integrity and honesty.

Helpful

Folds in the mail

Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2018

Verified Purchase

I’m sad that I ordered a new book, but I got it and it was completely folded in half and all the pages are creased. Should add something stiff to the package to keep it flat in the mail.

3 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Broxi3781

One of the most beautiful childrens books I have ever read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 22, 2013

Verified Purchase

I love children's books and have a vast number, despite the fact that I only keep books that are at least very good. Even so, every once in awhile I discover a book so beautiful, that I wish I could share it with the whole world. This is one of those books. It is a lovely story, but it is the message that makes this book worth buying and I truly wish every child on earth could be read this story at least once.

The Empty Pot is an old Chinese Folktale. It tells the story of a little boy named Ping. Although he is young, he has a natural talent for growing things and some affinity with plants. When the old Emperor announces a contest to choose his successor, Ping has very high hopes. All of the children in the kingdom will be given one seed, and whichever child can grow the most beautiful flower will become the next emperor.

Ping is very devoted in caring for his seed, but despite his best efforts, the seed never sprouts. A whole year passes, and Ping never gives up, nurturing and caring for the seed in the empty pot, but when at last the day of the contest arrives, he still has nothing to show for his efforts. The child is embarrassed and ashamed, but even so, he goes forward to present his best effort to the emperor. Ping stands alone, among thousands of children each with a beautiful flower. He is the only child who has failed - or has he? He bravely stands before the Emperor and recounts has he has cared for the seed all year, but even so, nothing has grown. How will the Emperor react to this failure?

I loved this story for several reasons. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful. They have a very Eastern quality to them that transports the reader to another place and time. In particular, I love the trees. The child's expressions are perfect to, as is the passing of the seasons. This is a lovely book for teaching very young children about the seasons. I also found this book useful in teaching some philosophy and critical thinking to the children as well. At first the Emperor's test seems a very silly way to find a good ruler for the land, but after reading this, we discussed how the character traits displayed through this test would show who would really make some one capable to rule a country with wisdom and kindness.

I love this book for the lesson it teaches children. This story shows the character of Ping, as he never gives up, nurturing the dead seed for an entire year. Ping displays honour and honesty as well as courage in the story. But no matter how wonderful the moral to a story, if the book does not engage children, it is worthless. No child wants books which just preach about good behaviour and character. They want a story that entertains as well. The Empty Pot does just that. My children were immediately drawn to the beautiful illustrations. They felt sorry for Ping as he tried so hard and nothing happened, but life has many disappointments. Their favourite part by far was the ending.

I can't recommend this book highly enough for parents. This is a lovely story that we have enjoyed reading several times. The story is simple enough, and so richly illustrated, I feel it would suit children from the age of 3 up, and perhaps just a wee bit younger. It is difficult to put an upper age limit on this. My children are ages 5 and 8 and both enjoyed this, and learned something from it. I am much older and I have to admit, I really enjoyed this myself. I believe reading books like this serves a purpose similar to meditation. It calms the spirit and allows us to look at the world in a different way. As such, I really don't think there is an upper age limit for this. I think it can leave any reader with something of value.

My reviews may appear elsewhere under the same user name or Marge3781, as well as on my own home education website.

9 people found this helpful

Red Bus Book Lover

Simple and calm retelling of ancient Chinese tale

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 8, 2019

Verified Purchase

This is a retelling of an ancient Chinese tale with a good moral which is that honesty is rewarded. All the other children in the kingdom cheat in a challenge given by the Emperor to grow a plant for dead seed - only our hero Ping is brave enough to present the Emperor with an empty pot earning both his admiration and his kingdom. Demi has retold this story simply and clearly and it would be a great book to have in school - good when looking at traditional tales from different countries; good when discussing making the right choices. Probably ideal for around 6 - 8 year olds.

Amanda

This is such a lovely story and beautifully illustrated. I read it to a Year 2 ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 19, 2018

Verified Purchase

This is such a lovely story and beautifully illustrated. I read it to a Year 2 class and they loved it. Such a good message for the children to understand at the end.

2 people found this helpful

Carol35

Beautiful Story

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 20, 2016

Verified Purchase

LOVED reading this with my 7 year old son. It raised some questions for him that we got to discuss about honesty and not trying to fake things just to be like everyone else. Lovely, lovely story, REALLY happy with purchase.

One person found this helpful

carol north

A lovely story

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 7, 2017

Verified Purchase

A lovely book which teaches the importance of honesty and being brave enough to tell the truth It is beautifully written and illustrated.

2 people found this helpful

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