The story about Ping

The Story about Ping is a charming story about a duck named Ping.  Ping lives in China on a boat with "Wise Eyes" on the Yangzte  River.
Each morning, the man who owned the boat would release Ping and his many family members. They would play, swim and eat all day long.  At the end of the day Ping would hear the man call out,"La La La La Lei".
That would be the signal for the ducks to go back to the boat.  Ping hurried to avoid being the last duck going up the boat ramp, because the last duck always recieved a spank across the back from the stick that the boat owner carried.
But one day Ping is upside down in the water, and doesn't hear the call until it is too late. Rather than be the last duck on the boat, Ping hid. What happens next is a series of misadventures that teach Ping it is better to get his spank than to miss the boat. <Sorry about the pun!>
Marjorie Flack wrote the story in 1933. Kurt Wiese illustrated it beautifully with simple but elegant drawings. One of the things I liked about this book is that it is a nice way to introduce another culture to children. They will enjoy looking at the boats that float along the Yangtze in China and read about the fishermen. I think they will especially enjoy the part about the boat boy, who practices swimming in the river with a barrel on his back.
 Those of us old enough to remember the Captian Kangaroo show will be interested in hearing that Captain Kangaroo used to read it once a week on his show for many years. It was also featured on Shari Lewis and Lamb Chop.
I believe children up to the age of 7 or maybe even a little older will enjoy this story. They will be able to relate to Ping being afraid of being of being punished. They will also enjoy the pictures of Ping as he swims and frolicks in the water.
Although this is one of the books that might be percieved as "old fashioned", try not to look at it that way. Look at it as a simple, enjoyable story that teaches in its quiet way, a lesson. Ping certainly learned that a spank is not the worse thing that can happen to a duck on the Yangtze River. 
La-la-la-la-Lei!