First published 1938
The first brother can swallow the sea. He takes a young boy fishing and drinks all the ocean water so they can collect fish from the dry seabed. But the boy wanders too far, and when the brother can no longer hold back the waves, the child drowns. The townspeople arrest the first brother and sentence him to death. His four brothers step in to help, each using their unique gift when execution day arrives. The second brother has an iron neck that cannot be broken. The third brother can stretch his legs to any length. The fourth brother cannot burn. The fifth brother can hold his breath forever. One by one, they secretly take each other's place and survive every method of execution the frustrated townspeople attempt. This tale of family loyalty and cleverness has entertained readers for decades with its playful logic and spirited storytelling.
Genres: family, 20th-century, fairy-tale-retellings
Vibes: emotional, thought-provoking, whimsical
Tropes: clever-protagonist, found-family
Setting: China
Period: 20th-century
64 pages · Hardcover · G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Content warnings: child-death