The Story About Ping facts for kids
| Author | Marjorie Flack |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Kurt Wiese |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Published | 1933 (Viking Press) |
| Pages | 32 |
| OCLC | 185400 |
The Story About Ping is a much-loved children's book written by Marjorie Flack and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. It was first published in 1933. The book tells a colorful story about a pet duck named Ping who lives on the Yangtze River in China. It became very popular. In 2007, the National Education Association even named it one of their "Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children" based on an online poll.
The Story of Ping
The story begins with Ping, a duck, and his large family. They live on a boat on the Yangtze River. Every day, they swim to the riverbank to find food. When evening comes, their owner calls them back to the boat. The last duck to return gets a tap on its tail as a gentle punishment.
One evening, Ping is slow to get back to the boat. He doesn't want to be the last duck and get a tap. So, he decides to hide instead of returning. The boat leaves without him.
The next day, Ping feels lost and alone. He starts swimming down the river by himself. He sees many interesting things and creatures along the way. At one point, a boy catches Ping. The boy plans to keep Ping for his family's dinner. But that evening, the boy feels sorry for Ping and lets him go.
After being released, Ping sees his master's boat in the distance. He swims as fast as he can to catch up. He knows he will be the last duck to return again. But this time, Ping bravely accepts the consequence. He gets his tap on the tail and is happy to be back with his family.
Ping in Movies and TV
The Story About Ping has been adapted for screens many times.
Film Adaptation
In 1955, Weston Woods Studios created a film version of The Story About Ping.
Television Appearances
Ping has also appeared on television shows since the 1950s. Many famous TV personalities read the story aloud. They would show the book's colorful pictures to viewers.
- For seventeen years, actor Sterling Holloway or Captain Kangaroo (or his friend Mr. Greenjeans) read Ping once a week on their show.
- Soupy Sales and Howdy Doody also featured Ping on their shows many times.
- Shari Lewis's famous sock puppet, Lamb Chop, even played the role of Ping in a special puppet show.
- In the 1970s, Sesame Street created an animated version of the story. It used the song Jinzhur as its background music.
