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Written by Claire Huchet Bishop in 1938, The Five Chinese Brothers is a folk tale from China. Often considered a classic of children's literature, Bishop's work has been accused of promoting stereotypes about the Chinese, most notably that they all look the same and have "bilious yellow skin and slit and slated eyes." The book remains controversial.
Published in 1990 and written by Margaret Mahy with illustrations by Joan Tseng, The Seven Chinese Brothers is a more realistic portrayal of the same Chinese folk tale. Mahy uses classic storytelling without any attempt to imitate the Chinese syntax. In this book, the Chinese people are portrayed more accurately in vivid watercolors. Tseng even interweaves elements of ancient Chinese painting.