The Token Gift - Softcover

McKibbon, Hugh

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1550374982 ISBN 13: 9781550374988

Publisher: Annick Press, 1996

Synopsis

When the king offers Rajrishi Mohan a reward for the hours of pleasure the king has had from the game Mohan invented, Mohan asks for a token gift of one grain of rice for the first square on the board, two for the second, four for the third, and so on, with unexpected consequences, in a retelling of a Persian legend about the origin of chess in India.When the king offers Rajrishi Mohan a reward for the game Mohan invented, Mohan asks for a token gift of one grain of rice for the first square on the board, two for the second, four for the third, and so on, in a retelling of a Persian legend about the origin of chess in India

About this title

About the Author

by Hugh William McKibbon and illustrated by Scott Cameron

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-4. The ancient origins of chess are the stuff of legend. This Persian story set in India reinforces historians' theory that the game began there. It tells of a young boy, Mohan, who loved games, who made one based on military strategy, and called it chaturanga (a Sanskrit word meaning "four divisions"). The game was wildly popular and when Mohan was a very old man, he was summoned by the king to be rewarded for the pleasure and honor he had brought to the country. Commanded to name a reward Mohan finally asked for rice?one grain on the first square of the chess board, two on the second, four on the third and so on, doubling the amount at each square. The king was appalled at such a meager request, but agreed. Of course, by the time counting began on the 33rd square, he realized that it would take thousands of years to grow enough rice to fill the board. The king retired, sick with dishonor, but Mohan convinced him that the trick had increased the king's wisdom. Strong full-page oil paintings, full of light and color, people this solid story with lively street and courts scenes. An afterword elaborates on the possible origins of chess. This story should appeal to chess and folktale fans alike. It will also join Anno's Mysterious Multiplying Jar (Philomel, 1983) and David Schwartz's How Much Is a Million? (Lothrop, 1985) in the ranks of good picture books to explain large number concepts.?Sally Margolis, formerly at Deerfield Public Library, IL
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Annick Press
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 1550374982
• ISBN 13: 9781550374988
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Cameron Scott