The Two Brothers. This item is unavailable.The Two Brothers

Preparing to enter the world after a life of instruction at a Cambodia monastery, Kem is given practical, specific advice, while Sem is offered more profound wisdom that he comes to understand in a special way.

Kindergarten-Grade 4?In ancient Cambodia, two orphaned brothers raised in a monastery consult their wise abbot before venturing out into the world. His astrological charts tell him that Kem is destined for wealth and Sem for kingship, so he gives each specific advice designed to make the prophecy come to pass. Kem follows the abbot's advice and attains success immediately. Sem's mistakes and backsliding make the story. Readers watch him marry foolishly, slide into poverty, travel the seas in a Chinese junk, wrestle with a sea monster, and eventually return to seek justice at an opulent Cambodian court when his newfound treasure is stolen. Sem exercises free will, learns from his mistakes and becomes a king, just as the abbot had foretold. The authors give no direct source for their story, but a note by Minfong Ho places it in the context of Cambodian folk tradition and recent history. The Tsengs' rich, expressive watercolors bring the characters to life. A book to value for its authentic setting, engaging story, and portrayal of one culture's take on the balance between choice and destiny.?Margaret A. Chang, North Adams State College, MA
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.