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The Empty Pot

32 pages, 1996

fiction

fiction

1382 books
Takeaways
Description

Demi's The Empty Pot is a beautiful story about an honest boy who must face the consequences of his actions. In ancient times, there was a Chinese boy named Ping. He loved flowers and anything he planted grew into a lovely, healthy plant. When it was time to choose a new emperor, he gave a flower seed to each child in the kingdom. Whoever can show me their best in a year's time will succeed me to the throne! Ping plants his seed and tends it every day, but month after month passes and nothing grows. Spring comes, and Ping must go to the Emperor with nothing but an empty pot. Demi's exquisite art and beautifully simple text show how Pings embarrassing failure is turned triumphant in this satisfying tale of honesty rewarded.

Honesty is the Best Policy

The Empty Pot by Demi beautifully illustrates the importance of honesty. The protagonist, Ping, is unable to grow a flower from the emperor's seeds but admits his failure honestly. This honesty is what ultimately wins him the emperor's admiration and reward. It's a great reminder for us to always be truthful, even when it's difficult.

Perseverance Pays Off

Ping's story in The Empty Pot is a testament to the power of perseverance. Despite his repeated failures, Ping never gives up trying to grow his flower. This teaches us that success isn't always immediate and that we should keep trying, even when things don't go as planned.

Acceptance of Failure

One of the key takeaways from The Empty Pot is the acceptance of failure. Ping is the only child who couldn't grow a flower, but he accepts his failure and presents the empty pot to the emperor. This shows us that it's okay to fail and that we should own up to our failures instead of hiding them.

The Value of Integrity

Demi's book, The Empty Pot, emphasizes the importance of integrity. Ping could have easily lied and filled his pot with a beautiful flower from elsewhere. But he chose to maintain his integrity, proving that it's more important to be honest and true to oneself than to cheat to win.

Courage to Stand Alone

In The Empty Pot, Ping shows immense courage by standing alone in his truth, even when all the other children present pots with beautiful flowers. This teaches us the importance of standing up for what we believe in, even if it means standing alone.

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