The Five Chinese Brothers

The Five Chinese Brothers is a story based on an old Chinese folk tale. The story is about five brothers who look exactly alike.  Each brother has a unique talent  The tale begins with the first brother, who is able to suck down the ocean and hold it in his mouth.  A little boy asks if he may go along with him while the brother does his fishing.  The first Chinese brother is reluctant, but eventually says the boy may go provided he comes when called  The little boy promises and they go off together. Once at the ocean, the brother carefully sucks down the water The little boy runs around the ocean bed, searching for pebbles and interesting objects  Eventually the first Chinese brother grows tired and tries to signal the little boy back But the little boy ignores him. Finally, the first Chinese brother cannot hold the water anymore, and spews it back drowning the little boy.
When the first Chinese brother returns to his village, he is arrested, and tried for murder. He is found guilty and sentenced to death.  The day before he is due to be executed, he asks permission to visit his mother..  Permission is granted and the first Chinese brother returns home.  The next morning, the second Chinese brother returns in his place When they try to behead the brother, the axe breaks. The second Chinese brother's neck is made of iron. The executioner tries three more times to execute the brother, but is unable to do so because each brother replaces the other and his unique talent prevents the execution. In the end, the officials decide because they are unable to execute the brother, that he must be innocent.  They let the last brother go, and he returns to his village to live out his life with his brothers and mother.
The book was written by Claire Huchet Bishop and illustrated by Kurt Wiese.  At one point the book came under some criticism because it was consider racist, perpetuating the myth that all Chinese look alike. But this story is a Chinese folktale, so that argument has gone by the wayside, although in the 1970's some libraries and schools pulled it from their shelves  
I especially liked the story within the story.  While the child who dies is called naughty and disobedient, he still receives justice in the form of a trial for his "murderer."  Also, although the brother is condemned to die, he is allowed to go home and visit his mother the day before his execution.  Within this story is taught the idea of honor, loyalty, obedience and respect, along with a healthy dose of self preservation. 
It is fun story to read, probably for children between ages 4-9. But children of all ages can enjoy it.
I still do!