The Chinese Emperor's New Clothes
What’s inside...
Ming Da, a nine-year-old emperor of China, is taken advantage of by his three advisors who steal his rice, gold, and precious stones. To outsmart them, Ming Da enlists his tailors to create 'magical' clothes that only honest people can see in their true splendor, while dishonest people see burlap sacks. The young emperor wears a burlap sack, and his devious advisors fall for the clever ruse.
Age
6-9
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Emperor Ming Da
The Tailor
The Dishonest Ministers
Discussion points
Why do you think the boy emperor decided to teach the ministers a lesson?
What do you think about the ministers' reactions when they found out they were tricked?
How do the colorful robes in the story make you feel and why?
What would you have done if you were in the emperor’s place?
How do you think honesty is important in our daily lives?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their thoughts and feelings about the characters and plot. Focus on open-ended questions to allow them to explore the themes of honesty and cleverness in depth. Highlight how these themes connect to real-life situations, fostering a deeper understanding and empathy. Share your own perspectives and experiences related to the story to make the conversation more interactive and personal.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Ingenuity and resourcefulness
Explanation: The story portrays the young protagonist, Ming, who cleverly persuades the vain emperor to wear 'magical' new clothes that are invisible to foolish and incompetent people. This demonstrates ingenuity in solving problems and thinking outside the box.
Real-World Application: Children can apply these skills in everyday challenges, learning to think creatively to overcome obstacles and come up with innovative solutions.
Example Lesson: Integrity
Explanation: Ming's plan reveals the truth about the emperor’s vanity and exposes the deceit of the royal advisors, underlining the importance of honesty and integrity.
Real-World Application: Children learn the value of being truthful and the impact it has on building trust and credibility in their relationships.
Example Lesson: Courage
Explanation: The protagonist shows courage by executing a risky plan to expose the truth, despite the potential consequences from those in power.
Real-World Application: This lesson encourages children to stand up for what they believe is right, even when it's difficult, fostering moral bravery in confronting injustices.
Example Lesson: Critical thinking
Explanation: The plot encourages questioning and scrutinizing apparent truths (like the emperor's new clothes) rather than accepting them at face value, promoting a skeptical and questioning attitude.
Real-World Application: Children learn to analyze situations, ask critical questions, and make informed decisions rather than following along blindly.
Example Lesson: Empathy and social awareness
Explanation: By highlighting the disparity between the emperor’s and the common people’s perceptions, the book fosters an understanding of different perspectives and social dynamics.
Real-World Application: This promotes empathy and a deeper understanding of diverse social situations, encouraging respect and consideration for different viewpoints in a community.