Letter of Love from China Review

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Letter of Love from China ReviewWhen adopted children do not have access to a birthparent and the answers they are looking for, adoptive parents become the sole source of this information - and their child's perception of what it means to be placed for adoption. As a birthmother, with an agenda of spreading the word on the love that goes behind this decision, I was extremely pleased to receive a copy of Letters of Love from China by Bonnie Cuzzolino. In an effort to provide answers to her daughter, adopted from China, author Bonnie Cuzzolino brings us an endearing children's book written as through the voice of a birthmother who writes to answer her child's questions. Illustrator Jax Bennett brings the letter to life with beautiful pictures that share the birthmother's love of her child and her country. The book begins "To My Precious Daughter," and provides the story of the birthmother's thoughtful but difficult decision to place her child with another family through adoption. The love that drives this decision is undeniable. Then, the book goes on to tell the child a bit about the country they were born in, China. The descriptions and illustrations share the traditions and beauties of the country that anyone can appreciate. By following this format, the book not only lets the child know how much they are truly loved (by birth families and adoptive families), but shows a respect for their beginnings and the country where their life began. The book helps children to see their self-worth and be proud of ALL that makes them who they are. It is a beautiful resource for adoptive parents with children from China, and an inspiration for all adoptive parents on how to talk with their child about being adopted. I highly recommend Letters of Love from China, and commend author Bonnie Cuzzolino for her insight and love when creating this heartwarming book.
By Patricia Dischler, Author, "Because I Loved You: A Birthmother's View of Open Adoption."Letter of Love from China Overview

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Preschool in Three Cultures Revisited: China, Japan, and the United States Review

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Preschool in Three Cultures Revisited: China, Japan, and the United States ReviewSometimes you pick up a book that you enjoyed in an earlier phase of your life to check whether it was really that good. In the case of "Preschool in Three Cultures" the situation is even more interesting in that we get to revisit the earlier book and its subject matter. It turns out that the earlier book was definitely that good and that revisiting the same subject matter is perhaps even better.
For the general public interested in childhood education, as well as for academic specialists in comparative and early childhood education, this is not only a very informative, but also a truly enjoyable read.
The book is particularly strong in the research methods that are brought to bear on important questions regarding early childhood education. To examine differences between early education in the U.S., China, and Japan, the authors videotaped a day in two preschools in each country and then showed these videos (in edited form) to teachers at the schools where the videos were shot to get their reaction to aspects of the video. In addition, the researchers also showed these videos to other educators in all three countries to get their reactions. These screenings also included the videos that formed the basis for the original research, published as Preschool in Three Cultures: Japan, China and the United States, adding a longitudinal comparison to the international one.
By showing concrete evidence of particular pedagogical strategies, the authors tease out reactions that tell the reader about perceptions of other countries' pedagogies, but by extension also about perspectives on early childhood education more generally.
Whereas one often hears that old chestnut about Japan being a Confucian society, Tobin, Hsueh, and Kawasawa were able to point to very concrete facets of early education to compare between the three countries. By the way, it turns out that there is very little that's obviously "Confucian" about Chinese or Japanese early education.
By describing the preschools themselves, but then also discussing the reactions of educators to the videos at great length, the authors skilfully draw us into their analysis and actually let readers do a lot of the analysis themselves. Not only is this admirable in terms of the openness of the method, but it gives readers a great opportunity to engage the research materials themselves and to learn a lot about comparative early education in the process.
As icing on the cake, the videos are actually available from the author (see [...]). For my part, I will be showing the videos to students in an undergraduate class on "Sociology of Education" and then discussing them before assigning parts of the book. I know that the students will enjoy the videos as well as the readings and that they will benefit greatly from their exposure to this research.-- Julian Dierkes
Associate Professor, University of British Columbia
Author of Postwar History Education in Japan and the Germanys: Guilty lessons (Routledge Contemporary Japan Series)Preschool in Three Cultures Revisited: China, Japan, and the United States Overview

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Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China Review

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Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China ReviewLike film awards, book awards rarely go to an artist's best work. Usually if a picture book has won a Caldecott medal you can sift through the author and illustrator's other books and inevitably find something far more deserving. This is true of almost every author/illustrator, save one. Ed Young has had a varied and fabulous career. From his spectacular "Seven Blind Mice" to his insipid and poorly drawn "Turkey Girl" he's run the gamut from "Yippee!" to "Bleach!". But his Caldecott winning "Lon Po Po" falls squarely into the "Yippee!" category. To my mind, it is his best work. A stunning edition of the Chinese tale of Lon Po Po, this story weaves elements of Grimm Fairy Tales with "Little Red Riding Hood" and comes out swinging.
One day a mother leaves her three daughters to visit their grandmother on her birthday. Before she leaves she instructs the girls to lock the doors soundly after she is gone. The girls do so but a wily wolf has overheard that the mother will be leaving. The wolf disguises himself as an old woman and knocks on the door. When asked who he is, he responds that he is their grandmother (or "Po Po") come to stay with them. The children foolishly let the animal in and he quickly douses the lights. After many questions about the supposed grandmother's bushy tail and sharp claws the eldest and cleverest daughter catches sight of the wolf's snout and must find a way to save her sisters. Not only does she succeed, but she also finds a way to get rid of the wolf forever.
In the dedication of this book, Ed Young writes, "To all the wolves of the world for lending their good name as a tangible symbol for our darkness". This was written in part, I suspect, to appease the wolf lovers of the world. Much like the old fairy tales of European folklore, this tale has its fair share of violence. The wolf's end, for example, is a particularly nasty way to go. And because it has been created so realistically in this book, I suspect that there are probably some animal advocates who will take offense at his death. Nonetheless, we're not dealing with reality here, people. We're dealing with fairy tales and in these stories wolves are (as Young himself said) representative of our own evil.
The story is translated by Young himself and is done beautifully. The words in this tale sing. Yet even the best laid plotting can be undone by poor illustrations. In this particular case, you've nothing to fear because Young has bent over backwards to bring you absolute breathtaking beauty. Combining watercolors with pastels, the book is simultaneously gorgeous and frightening. It may take a couple readings, but if you look carefully in some of these pictures you will find wolf images hidden in the landscapes and backgrounds of a great many scenes. The first spread in this book is of the mother leaving her children. As she goes, the land beneath her feet is shaped like that of a wolf's nose, the cottage the eye of the animal. Often the pictures are separated into threes, giving the book a formal feeling. Finally, the pictures of the girls and their enemy are excellent. Sometimes the merest of glimpses of the wolf are scary enough to drill home what a threat he is. You really do feel scared for the children when they cuddle up with their supposed grandmother in bed, only to find her to be a hungry beastie.
The "Little Red Riding Hood" story is all well and good in and of itself, but it always lacked kick. "Lon Po Po" has more than kick. It has bite. It will enrapture small children and give them tangible forms for their darkest fears. It will hypnotize any reader, drawing them effortlessly into its deeply interesting story. Of all the Caldecott winning picture books of the last 15 years, this one is my favorite, hands down.
Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China Overview

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The Master Swordsman & the Magic Doorway: Two Legends from Ancient China Review

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The Master Swordsman & the Magic Doorway: Two Legends from Ancient China ReviewThis is the kind of book I enjoyed as a child and still find delightful as an adult. Two simple stories, funny yet with a message, great for kids. The drawings splash across the pages in full color, with animals, bandits, and landscapes that make the text come to life.The Master Swordsman & the Magic Doorway: Two Legends from Ancient China Overview

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Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella Story from China Review

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Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella Story from China ReviewIn almost every culture, parents tell children a story that resembles the European Cinderella. Scholars have collected more than 500 versions of the story. In the past couple of decades a lot of these multicultural variations on Cinderella have been turned into children's picture books. The familiar story gives kids a great introduction to people of the world. Several of these books are very good, but two are exceptional. One is John Steptoe's "Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters," an African version of the story. The other is this one.
"Yeh-Shen," a Chinese version of the tale almost a thousand years older than the earliest known European version, contains many familiar details - a poor over-worked girl, a wicked stepmother and stepsister, a magical helper, a king in search of a wife, and a lost shoe. But while Cinderella is simply handed gifts from her fairy godmother, Yeh-Shen earns her wishes through kindness to a magic fish. This one change makes a big difference in the ethical tone of the book. It also makes the reader feel much more sympathetic toward Yeh-Shen, who seems to deserve every bit of good fortune she gets.
The illustrations greatly add to the book's charm. Ed Young's style is striking and unique. There's a misty, ethereal quality to his art that makes everything look as if it were taking place in a dream - which is just perfect for the book.Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella Story from China Overview

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Simply China Review

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Simply China ReviewAs a rule, there are people photographers and there are those who have a penchant for inanimate objects. Rarely can practitioners from either discipline bridge that gap. Nancy Brown is one of those rare exceptions.She is so accomplished when she engages with her human subjects that one would be content with nothing more than to gaze at and learn from the marvelous portraits of rural Chinese & Tibetans, young & old, that permeate this book. But then comes pages like this wonderful architectural spread of the Dalai Lama's winter palace, Potala, and one is simply awe struck by her versatility. In a world of tabloid newspapers, "Simply China" is an elixir for the eye, a book that deserves returning to, again and again.Simply China Overview

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Fodor's Walt Disney World® with Kids 2007 (Special-Interest Titles) Review

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Fodor's Walt Disney World® with Kids 2007 (Special-Interest Titles) ReviewI received my book and I have not put it down. It goes wherever I do. I have read it front to back, highlighted in it, made notes in it. It is FULL of invaluable information for families with children of all ages. My children that are going with us are 3 and 12, so with such a big age difference, I am determined to make the most of the trip and see that they both get to do most, if not all, of the things they want to do.
I bought one of the other guides that was from an "ex-employee" of Disney World. I could have very well saved my $20. This book had all of the same information and more. The other, I had to download from the website, put into a notebook, etc. This book is handy to carry around everywhere.
I cannot imagine going to Disney World without this book's guidance. Thanks to this book, I am positive I will get my money's worth on this trip.
Tammy Holland
Cash, TexasFodor's Walt Disney World® with Kids 2007 (Special-Interest Titles) Overview

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