The Emperor’s Egg

The Emperor’s Egg by Rae Tan

This book first caught my attention with its illustrations. From the cover alone, I could easily identify the origin of the story as a Chinese folktale. The visual design blends traditional Chinese elements with some Western perceptions of China, including festival colours, clothing, and the appearance of the characters. Personally, I think that without these stereotypes, it would be a stronger piece of work. There are far more aesthetic possibilities for presenting this story visually, drawing from China’s millennia-long history and its many dynasties.

Although it is an Eastern tale, the values it conveys are very much in line with virtues that humanity has long praised: honesty and integrity.

I learned this tale when I was young. The only difference was that, in the version I knew, the emperor gave each child a handful of cooked seeds rather than a boiled egg. However, the purpose remained the same: to discover who was honest and brave enough to tell the truth. This was the way the emperor chose his heir.

This story conveys important values and meaningful messages. However, as a picture book, the way the illustrations present the illustrator’s views and interpretations of a culture is far more worthy of consideration than the written text alone.

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Kelly