I haven’t read many self-published children’s books, so when I saw this one, I had to give it a try. The Emperor’s Seed is a cute tale about integrity and courage; however, it does follow the unfortunate precedent of formatting errors in the self-publishing industry.
The Emperor’s Seed is a moral story set in Ancient China about an Emperor who needs to find an heir to his throne, a big competition involving all of the kingdom’s children, and a young girl among them faced with a tough dilemma. It is a folk tale that has been passed down for generations in China, now illustrated and brought to English speaking audiences.
Integrity
The Emperor’s Seed sets a great example for children learning about honesty. Proverbs 19:1 says this: “Better is the poor that walks in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.” This lesson is essential, and The Emperor’s Seed is a good way to impart this lesson in an engaging way for young children. The artwork and Chinese translation pay homage to the folk tale’s origins, which is great for exposing kids to other cultures. Unfortunately, there are a few typos and grammatical errors that take away from this story. (This is what you might expect from a self-published book; still, it was disappointing to find.) In addition, some of the text is placed over the artwork, which makes it difficult to read.
The Emperor’s Seed is a good story with important lessons. Although it struggled in technical areas, the message is strong and clear. It’s not the best children’s book you’ll read this year, but it is inexpensive and will work for a quick addition to your kid’s shelf. You can buy The Emperor’s Seed here.
Marie