The Story About Ping by Marjorie Flack (Illustrated by Kurt Wiese)

The Story About Ping was written by Marjorie Flack and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. In the book, Ping, a duck living on the Yangtze River, is separated from his family after hiding to avoid punishment for arriving home last. Ping's misadventures eventually lead him home.

     Marjorie Flack utilizes repetition in her story. Readers hear about Ping's "mother and his father, and two sisters and three brothers and eleven aunts and seven uncles and forty-two cousins" a few times throughout the book. She does not always finish a sentence on one page, there are a few times when it runs over onto the next page. I feel that this adds a little bit of tension for readers: what will happen next? Is Ping going to be ok?

     The Story About Ping could be considered fantasy as we are reading the book from an animal's point-of-view. Even though a specific time period is not mentioned, it could also be considered historical. There is no doubt that The Story About Ping provides a fantastic multicultural view into life in historical China.

     Kurt Wiese seems to utilize a combination of pastels and ink to beautifully illustration The Story About Ping. The illustrations are simple, yet detailed where they need to be. The movement of the water and reflections pictured in it are wonderfully created.

For Teachers:

The Story About Ping is perfect for students between Kindergarten and 2nd grade. This story can be used as a great introduction into studying China and its culture. Some activities would include:

• Follow Ping: Utilizing a map of the Yangtze River and a cut-out of Ping (or any duck), have Ping travel the river, stopping at various important sites. This will provide a valuable visual aid for learning about various important Chinese locations. 
• Chinese Flag: Have younger students color a Chinese flag.
• Ping's Family: Have students point out similarities between Ping's family and the Boy's family. Students can then draw a picture of their own family. 
• Discussion Questions: If you were Ping, would you have hid or gotten on the boat? Ping sees many different boats (big boats, little boats, fishing boats), have you ever been on a boat? What country do you think Ping lives in, and why? 

The Story About Ping can also be used to enhance the theme of "Don't talk to Strangers." Some activities would include: 

• Safety: See if a local police officer can come into the class and talk about what to do when you are lost or in danger. 
• Define: Who is a stranger? Have the students write down (or talk about) what makes someone a stranger. 
• Knowledge: It is important for any child to know their phone number and address. Make sure your students know these, and if not encourage them to talk to their parents. 
• Discussion Questions: How did Ping feel when he was captured? What should Ping do to avoid being lost in the future? How do you think Ping's family felt when he did not return that night? 

My Thoughts: 

     I fear that some parents and teachers may be put off from reading this book due to the fact that Ping's Master would "spank" the last duck to board the boat. I know that it will not stop me from reading this to my son when he is a little older. Maybe we could even have duck that night for dinner (just kidding). Ping is a great representation for a young child who gets separated from home. He goes through all the steps of what not to do when lost and opens up great discussion points for parents to teach their children. 

Additional Resources: 

Students may also enjoy some of Marjorie Flack's other books: 

• Angus and the Ducks
• Angus and the Cat
• Angus Lost
• Ask Mr. Bear

A dramatized reading:

References: 

Flack, M. (1961). The story about Ping (A Children's Choice Book Club ed.). New York, NY: Viking Press, Inc.