THE KING'S CHESSBOARD

by David Birch ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 1988

A folktale-like story that should intrigue children by its mathematical possibilities as much as by its moral lesson: for service rendered, the king insists on rewarding a wise man, who asks for a single grain of rice, to be doubled for each square on the chessboard on successive days. By the 32nd day, the poor have been splendidly fed and the king realizes the impossibility of completing the bargain; the wise man, who was always satisfied, lets him off--and the king graciously concedes that he has learned a valuable lesson in relinquishing pride. Grebu's expressive pen-and-watercolor illustrations on delicately rainbow-hued backgrounds set the story in ancient India. The gracefully composed text should serve well for telling or reading aloud.

Pub Date: March 1, 1988

ISBN: 0140548807

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Dial

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 1988

Categories: CHILDREN'S