Shen of the Sea

Shen of the Sea
	First edition
Author	Arthur Bowie Chrisman
Illustrator	Else Hasselriis
Genre	Children's short story collection
Publisher	E. P. Dutton
Publication date	1925
Publication place	United States
Media type	Print
Pages	252
OCLC	299415
LC Class	PZ7.C45 Sh

Shen of the Sea is a collection of short stories written by Arthur Bowie Chrisman. It was first published by Dutton in 1925, illustrated with more than 50 silhouettes by Else Hasselriis.^[1] Chrisman won the 1926 Newbery Medal for the work, recognizing the previous year's "most distinguished contribution to American literature for children".

The original title page shows subtitle A Book for Children^[1] and one early dustjacket shows Chinese Stories for Children. Both subtitles have been used for later editions.^[2]

Chrisman's 16 original stories are written in the style of humorous Chinese folk tales. The title story tells of a king who tries to match wits with the demons of the water in order to save his city from a flood. Other tales relate the origin of chopsticks, and an instance when mud pies are revealed to be the origin of fine China.

Stories

Ah Mee's Invention - about the invention of the printing press
Shen of the Sea - a story about tricking demons to save a kingdom
How Wise Were the Old Men - a story about prophecy and the twists life take
Chop-Sticks - about the invention of chop sticks
Buy a Father - a story about morality, primarily obedience
Four Generals - a story about using cleverness to overcome
The Rain King's Daughter - a story about a young woman who uses cleverness to avoid a war
Many Wives - a story about a beautiful young maiden and a not so bright king
That Lazy Ah Fun - about the invention of gunpowder
The Moon Maiden - a love story
Ah Tcha the Sleeper - a story about tea
I Wish It Would Rain - a story about an over indulged queen
High as Han Hsin - about the invention of the kite
Contrary Chueh Chun - a funny story about a man who always does or believes the opposite
Pies of the Princess - the invention of fine china
As Hai Low Kept House - a funny story about following orders literally and a series of unfortunate circumstances

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Shen of the sea; a book for children," (first ed.). Library of Congress Online Catalog. Retrieved 2017-07-07.
^ Undated title pages of three Dutton editions, displayed at Google Books (books.google.com), show the former subtitle reported as 1925 and 1958, the latter reported as 1968.

External links

Shen of the Sea at Faded Page (Canada)

Awards
Preceded by Tales from Silver Lands	Newbery Medal recipient 1926	Succeeded by Smoky the Cowhorse

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[LCC-1] "Shen of the sea; a book for children," (first ed.). Library of Congress Online Catalog. Retrieved 2017-07-07.

[2] Undated title pages of three Dutton editions, displayed at Google Books (books.google.com), show the former subtitle reported as 1925 and 1958, the latter reported as 1968.

[1]

[2]

v t e Newbery Medal–winning works
1922–1925	The Story of Mankind (1922) The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle (1923) The Dark Frigate (1924) Tales from Silver Lands (1925)
1926–1950	Shen of the Sea (1926) Smoky the Cowhorse (1927) Gay Neck, the Story of a Pigeon (1928) The Trumpeter of Krakow (1929) Hitty, Her First Hundred Years (1930) The Cat Who Went to Heaven (1931) Waterless Mountain (1932) Young Fu of the Upper Yangtze (1933) Invincible Louisa (1934) Dobry (1935) Caddie Woodlawn (1936) Roller Skates (1937) The White Stag (1938) Thimble Summer (1939) Daniel Boone (1940) Call It Courage (1941) The Matchlock Gun (1942) Adam of the Road (1943) Johnny Tremain (1944) Rabbit Hill (1945) Strawberry Girl (1946) Miss Hickory (1947) The Twenty-One Balloons (1948) King of the Wind (1949) The Door in the Wall (1950)
1951–1975	Amos Fortune, Free Man (1951) Ginger Pye (1952) Secret of the Andes (1953) ...And Now Miguel (1954) The Wheel on the School (1955) Carry On, Mr. Bowditch (1956) Miracles on Maple Hill (1957) Rifles for Watie (1958) The Witch of Blackbird Pond (1959) Onion John (1960) Island of the Blue Dolphins (1961) The Bronze Bow (1962) A Wrinkle in Time (1963) It's Like This, Cat (1964) Shadow of a Bull (1965) I, Juan de Pareja (1966) Up a Road Slowly (1967) From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler (1968) The High King (1969) Sounder (1970) Summer of the Swans (1971) Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (1972) Julie of the Wolves (1973) The Slave Dancer (1974) M. C. Higgins, the Great (1975)
1976–2000	The Grey King (1976) Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (1977) Bridge to Terabithia (1978) The Westing Game (1979) A Gathering of Days (1980) Jacob Have I Loved (1981) A Visit to William Blake's Inn (1982) Dicey's Song (1983) Dear Mr. Henshaw (1984) The Hero and the Crown (1985) Sarah, Plain and Tall (1986) The Whipping Boy (1987) Lincoln (1988) Joyful Noise (1989) Number the Stars (1990) Maniac Magee (1991) Shiloh (1992) Missing May (1993) The Giver (1994) Walk Two Moons (1995) The Midwife's Apprentice (1996) The View from Saturday (1997) Out of the Dust (1998) Holes (1999) Bud, Not Buddy (2000)
2001–present	A Year Down Yonder (2001) A Single Shard (2002) Crispin (2003) The Tale of Despereaux (2004) Kira-Kira (2005) Criss Cross (2006) The Higher Power of Lucky (2007) Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! (2008) The Graveyard Book (2009) When You Reach Me (2010) Moon Over Manifest (2011) Dead End in Norvelt (2012) The One and Only Ivan (2013) Flora & Ulysses (2014) The Crossover (2015) Last Stop on Market Street (2016) The Girl Who Drank the Moon (2017) Hello, Universe (2018) Merci Suárez Changes Gears (2019) New Kid (2020) When You Trap a Tiger (2021) The Last Cuentista (2022) Freewater (2023) The Eyes and the Impossible (2024)