Once upon a time, in a small village, there lived a poor but talented young artist named Jack. Despite his lack of resources, Jack was known for his extraordinary painting skills. One day, while wandering through the forest in search of inspiration, he stumbled upon an old, dusty paintbrush. Little did he know that this paintbrush was no ordinary tool. As Jack began to paint with the brush, he noticed something magical happening. The strokes from the brush resulted in mesmerizing, lifelike paintings that seemed to come alive on the canvas.
Based on you remembering the character being Japanese, I'm going to suggest Ma Lien and the Magic Brush by Hisako Kimishima.
In the original tale as it was first handed down decades, nay centry or more ago, Ma liang came froma a poor family and the paint brush brought wealth and comfort. It is a great book that can be used to teach what happens when you wish for something without realizing how it can impact your life or how greedy you may be becoming.
The strokes from the brush resulted in mesmerizing, lifelike paintings that seemed to come alive on the canvas. The once-poor artist suddenly found himself able to create masterpieces that captivated the hearts of all who saw them. Word of Jack's abilities spread far and wide, reaching the ears of the kingdom's emperor.
Review: The Magic Paintbrush
The Magic Paintbrush by Laurence Yep, illustrated by Suling Wang.
HarperTrophy, HarperCollins, New York, 2000.
Historical fantasy, 90 pages.
Lexile: 530L .
AR Level: 3.8 (worth 2.0 points) .
Eight-year-old Steve’s parents and all of his belongings are gone after a tragic fire, and now he shares a single room in Chinatown with his grandfather and Uncle Fong (no relation but a childhood friend of Grandfather’s). They are so poor that after his paintbrush split in art class, he’s afraid to go home and tell his Grandfather, knowing that a new one is not possible.
The Magic Paintbrush by Laurence Yep, illustrated by Suling Wang.
For a book with magic in the title, this book takes a while to get to the fantasy part. The first chapters are all about establishing the setting – early 1960s San Francisco – and characters. The tale of a magic paintbrush given to a poor boy who uses it to spread happiness is a Chinese story that has been retold many times, mostly in picture books. Yep has a unique historical Chinese-American spin to his version though.
Chapters are between 5 and 12 pages long. Each has a small illustration after the chapter title, and most have a full page illustration within the chapter. The cover gives some idea of the black and white interior artwork. I was impressed by Wang’s artistic skill. The ability to convey a child’s drawing changing to real life within a drawing itself is more complicated than most illustrations. When you add the historical setting and fantastical elements, her skill is even more impressive.
Fantasy lovers will have to persevere through the first two chapters that introduce the characters and setting, before getting to the magic.
However, I’m not entirely impressed with the way the illustrations were printed. The interior illustrations are reproduced in black and white, and while some transitioned well, others lost a lot of nuance. It’s clear from the results that the interior illustrations were painted with colors much like the cover. While I appreciate publishers trying to keep costs down, color interior paintings would have added a lot to this book.
The other quibble I have is that this book is not body-positive. As I’ve mentioned in the past, the original publication date is something that I consider. In this case the genre also applies that this is set in the past and the early 1960s is not known for awareness of different body types.
However, the comments mostly apply to one chapter about Mr. Pang. He is not coded as overweight beforehand, although he’s definitely a villain from his first mention. Instead he is forcefed gourmet meals through a situation of his own making and greed.
Some of the descriptions and comments, as well as the unfortunate characterization of a negative, greedy character as overweight, could still be problematic. They are few enough though, that a well-prepared teacher, librarian, parent, or caregiver could alter them during read-alouds. However I would avoid this for students who struggle with body positivity or who might be triggered with the mention of force feeding.
Because this is short and crosses genres, I’ve often seen it assigned as a class or small group read, or used as a read-aloud. Incorporating elements of historical fiction and fantasy, with the major bonus of an Asian-American main cast, this book is deservedly popular. It also deals with loss and poverty in a sensitive manner.
The relationship between Steve and his grandfather starts off full of misunderstandings and poor communication, but grows throughout the story into a true family relationship. They both manage to communicate their needs through the magic paintbrush and gain some understanding of each other.
Steve and his family are surprised by a steak on page 20 of The Magic Paintbrush.
Part of me hoped for a sequel to this one. There is so much more to explore with the paintbrush, the Lady on the Moon, and their new lives. But the story really is more about the relationship Steve has with his grandfather and Uncle Fong – and that comes to a natural conclusion by the end of this book.
I’d recommend this for teachers, librarians, or as a family read-aloud. With just 11 chapters, this book can be completed in two weeks or less as a read-aloud, or within a month as a structured group read. Steve is in third grade, and this is structured somewhat like an early chapter book, but the vocabulary and complexity put it higher, in the upper elementary/lower MG range. The short chapters and low reading level could make it achievable for hi-lo readers if they aren’t turned off by the protagonist’s age.
Some of the descriptions and comments, as well as the unfortunate characterization of a negative, greedy character as overweight, could still be problematic. They are few enough though, that a well-prepared teacher, librarian, parent, or caregiver could alter them during read-alouds. However I would avoid this for students who struggle with body positivity or who might be triggered with the mention of force feeding.
Intrigued by tales of the extraordinary paintbrush, the emperor summoned Jack to his palace, demanding to see the magical tool for himself. Jack hesitated, fearful of losing his beloved brush, but eventually agreed to showcase his talent. In the presence of the emperor and his royal court, Jack began to paint. With each stroke of the brush, beautiful landscapes, vibrant animals, and majestic portraits appeared before their very eyes. The emperor was so impressed that he insisted on taking possession of the brush, offering Jack wealth and fame in return. However, Jack knew deep down that it was his talent, not the brush, that deserved recognition. With a heavy heart, he politely refused the emperor's offer, explaining that it was his passion and dedication that allowed him to create such incredible artwork. The emperor, though disappointed, acknowledged Jack's honesty and let him keep the brush. From that day forward, Jack continued to create stunning works of art, not relying on the magic of the brush but on his own innate skill and creativity. His paintings were sought after by art collectors from far and wide, and his fame grew beyond the borders of the kingdom. The story of Jack and the magic paintbrush serves as a reminder that true talent cannot be measured by external tools or resources. It is the passion, dedication, and hard work that bring art to life, not the tools used in the process. In a world obsessed with shortcuts and quick fixes, this tale stands as a testament to the power of human imagination and perseverance..
Reviews for "The Magic Paint Brush: A Tool for Creative Transformation"
1. John - 2/5 - I was really excited to try out the Magic Paint Brush after hearing so many positive reviews, but I was left disappointed. The brush seemed to dry out quickly and the colors were not as vibrant as advertised. I also found it difficult to control the brush on the paper, making the painting process frustrating. Overall, I did not find the Magic Paint Brush to be worth the hype.
2. Sarah - 1/5 - I had high hopes for the Magic Paint Brush, but it turned out to be a complete letdown. The brush hairs started shedding almost immediately, leaving bits and pieces on my painting. The colors also did not mix well and often turned muddy, making it difficult to achieve the desired effect. Additionally, the packaging was poorly designed and the caps did not fit securely, resulting in messy paint spills. Save your money and invest in a better quality paint set.
3. Emily - 2/5 - As an experienced artist, I was excited to try out the Magic Paint Brush for its unique features. However, I found that the brush bristles were not of high quality and felt rough on the paper. The bristles also did not retain enough water, making it difficult to achieve a smooth wash with the paints. I expected better performance from a brush at this price point, and I am disappointed with the overall quality of the product.
4. Michael - 2/5 - The Magic Paint Brush claims to be suitable for beginners, but I found it to be quite difficult to use. The brush hairs were too thick and made it hard to control the strokes, resulting in messy and uneven paintings. The color options were also limited and did not provide enough variety for my liking. Overall, I would not recommend the Magic Paint Brush to anyone looking for a user-friendly and versatile painting tool.