The House of Sixty Fathers facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Meindert DeJong |
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| Illustrator | Maurice Sendak |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's novel |
| Publisher | Harper & Brothers |
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Publication date
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1956 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| OCLC | 172356 |
The House of Sixty Fathers is a children's novel written by Meindert DeJong. It was first published in 1956. The famous artist Maurice Sendak created the pictures for the book. This story was inspired by DeJong's own time as a military pilot in China during World War II.
The book quickly won several important awards. In 1956, it received the Josette Frank Award. The next year, in 1957, it was recognized as a Newbery Honor Book. It also won the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award and was named an ALA Notable Children's Book.
Contents
What is The House of Sixty Fathers About?
This exciting story takes place during the Second Sino-Japanese War. This was a time when Japan had invaded China. The main character is a young boy named Tien Pao. His family lives in a small village that is attacked by Japanese forces.
To escape the danger, Tien Pao's family flees upriver. They use an old sampan, which is a small boat. Their goal is to reach the town of Hengyang, where they hope to be safe.
Tien Pao's Journey Begins
When they reach Hengyang, Tien Pao's parents go to a nearby American airfield. They hope to find work there. Tien Pao stays behind to look after their sampan. He also cares for three little ducklings and their family pig, named Glory of the Republic.
One night, a big rainstorm hits. While Tien Pao is sleeping, the sampan breaks free. It is swept away down the river. Tien Pao wakes up alone, floating in the wild waters.
Lost and Alone
After a long night on the river, the storm calms down. Tien Pao finds himself floating near where his village used to be. He lets the ducklings go free in the river. Then, he heads for higher ground with his pig.
Tien Pao now faces a very difficult journey. He must travel over tall mountains. He also has to go through areas controlled by Japanese soldiers. His goal is to reach Hengyang and find his family.
A Brave Boy's Challenges
As Tien Pao travels, he becomes very hungry and tired. He sees scary and violent things along the way. Once, he watches a plane shoot at a Japanese military group. The plane is then shot down in the forest. Tien Pao sees the whole fight from a big rock.
Later, he finds the injured American pilot from the plane. Tien Pao had met this pilot before in Hengyang. He bravely helps the pilot get back to his military unit.
Finding His New Family
The American pilot is part of a group called the Flying Tigers. There are sixty men in this unit. These sixty men become like "sixty fathers" to Tien Pao. They take care of him and help him.
Tien Pao is very determined to find his parents. It's an incredibly hard task. With the American pilot's help, he finds an airfield. It looks like the one where his parents used to work. The pilot only wanted to show Tien Pao an airfield. But Tien Pao is incredibly lucky. He finds his mother there and is finally reunited with his family.
Awards and Recognition
The House of Sixty Fathers received many important awards. These awards show how special and well-loved the book is.
- Josette Frank Award: This award is given by the Child Study Association of America. It honors novels that show real-life issues in a truthful way. The House of Sixty Fathers won this award in 1956.
- Newbery Honor: In 1957, the book was named a Newbery Honor winner. The Newbery Medal is one of the most famous awards for children's books in the United States.
- Hans Christian Andersen Award: Meindert DeJong, the author, won the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 1960. This award is given to authors and illustrators for their entire body of work. The House of Sixty Fathers was one of the books that helped him win this international honor.
