chinese cultural traditions - 2 children's...

we've found 2 wonderful picture books that illustrate different aspects of chinese culture at our library this week. i am always into international education - especially at home. of all the books we've read about chinese cultures and traditions, these are the best (after the grace lin books that i've already written about).

everyone knows what a dragon looks like, by jay williams, illustrated by mercer mayer

this is an older book, but well-loved in our library. it shows children that appearances can be deceiving - that a dragon might not always appear strong and dragon-like, but might appear as a small, fat man with a straggly beard. one day, some wild horsemen appear on the horizon and threaten to overrun the city. only one man, a small gatekeeper, pays attention to the "dragon" - which is enough to save the city. everyone learns that might does not always look the strongest. lovely story - even better illustrations, by one of my favorite illustrators, mercer mayer. he hides things in his pictures, so we have fun trying to find them.

uncle peter's amazing chinese wedding, by lenore look, illustrated by yumi heo.

this is a wonderful modern book which teaches gently about both chinese cultural customs and a little girl's fear of losing her uncle when he marries. both lillie and i learned a lot about different cultural traditions surrounding a chinese wedding. the illustrations are gorgeous and enticing - bright colors and lots to look at. lillie enjoyed it!

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Comments: 12

Nancy S. Jul 10, 2006, 7:33pm EDT

This is a great review. It reminded of when my kids were young, and they loved the Mercer Mayer Little Monster books! I had actually kind of forgotten them. This article brought an "awww" to my mind. My kids are now 30, 27 and 25! They all still love to read though, so you are definitely getting Lillie off on the right path.
Books are so wonderful.

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Dorine H. Jul 10, 2006, 7:40pm EDT

Wonderul-sounding books! Kids need to learn all they can so as to appreciate all cultures. You are a good mother!

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jessie voigts Jul 10, 2006, 8:35pm EDT

thanks, nancy and dorine! we are lucky to be in a great library system. we can get books from over 20 libraries in our co-op - free! (our other library can get other books, but have to pay the ILL charges)....anyway - we're lucky and know it. we read a LOT!! thank you!

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Marcia T. Jul 10, 2006, 8:44pm EDT

Oh, these books sound delightful, Jessie. Children's stories can be so fun. And educational, too. I'm tying to imagine what might happen at a Chinese wedding. Maybe I'll have to go to the library tomorrow. I love the idea of a dragon that doesn't appear to be a dragon. I mean, really, maybe we've all seen a dragon and just didn't know it. Oh, such possibilities!

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Mariana T. Jul 10, 2006, 10:41pm EDT

Jessie, wonderful picture of my precious little Lillie! And, great that you are introducing her to so many cultures! That little Princess of the Sea will be so well-rounded when she grows up - I love hearing about what she is learning next! I agree with marcia - such possiblities! Salud,

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0000-dashiell5-0000 Jul 10, 2006, 10:46pm EDT

Did the bride wear two wedding dresses at the Chinese wedding? I ask because we had an exchange student from Hong Kong, and when she sent over her wedding pictures years later, she wore white in one pic and red in another. I'm sure she didn't just do it for a lark, so I figured there was some story behind it (I just never got the story... and after Communist China took over HK, we oddly lost contact with her).

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jessie voigts Jul 10, 2006, 10:52pm EDT

thank you, marcia! yes, i think we've seen dragons and not known it!!

mariana - thank you! yes, she'll be very well-rounded!! isn't that a great goal??

KR - yes, 2. they said that in the olden days, they used to wear up to 100 outfits!! yikes!! i know in japan, they have 2 wedding dresses - a traditional white western one, and a gorgeous traditional kimono. maybe it was someth abt that. maybe you could find her again??

thanks, everyone!

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Nancy S. Jul 10, 2006, 11:07pm EDT

by the way, Jessie, I ordered Fancy Nancy after you wrote about it, and now I keep it on a shelf in my living room! Of, course, it is very ME.

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Selene N. Aug 28, 2006, 5:18pm EDT

Both of the authors don't sound like Chinese. Are you sure they are authentic?

KR - The white one is the traditional color for a western style wedding ceremony. The red one is the traditional color for a Chinese ceremony.

The bride did not use to wear up to 100 outfits in the old days. You might mean "100 pieces" in one outfit, because women were wrapped up tightly.

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Susan *. Sep 5, 2007, 8:50pm EDT

this was a great review and I honestly can see the delight in your little readers face! books are a treasure to be shared...thanks for sharing yours with us! :-D

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