Reading, Books and Grandchildren
Reviews - international kids' books for grandmother and grandfather
Book lovers can see what the rest of the world is publishing for children with some lovely books from around the world. Read aloud. Early readers.
Who's Hiding? by Saturo Onishi (writer/illustrator). ISBN 978-1-933605-24-1. $15.95, 32 pages, glossy hard cover. Published by Kane Miller Book Publishers, 2007 (American edition).
Who’s Hiding can be called “interactive.” It’s as much a game as a book. No plot or story here, just a question/answer thing for you to do with your favorite little kids. Each page displays whimsical animals – bear, lion, giraffe, tiger, etc. Pay attention to the placement of the animals on the page, color, facial expressions and other details.
Fun for a while, but repetitive. Youngest children, say preschoolers, might find attention wandering. School kids – maybe to first grade might enjoy the challenge, though the challenge could have been more challenging.
I enjoyed the quality – cover, binding, paper, colors. The stylized illustrations are cute and bright. There’s almost no text, and perhaps too many animals on a page. I’d pass on this one. It doesn’t give any information about the author or the author’s country. In fact, we don’t even get to know if the writer is a man or a woman. No clue about country of origin, so no triggers for conversation about other cultures or diversity. There is no real way to connect to Who’s Hiding - I can’t see kids returning to it over and over.
Story of Cherry the Pig by Utako Yamada (writer/illustrator). ISBN 978-1-933605-25-8. $15.95, 32 pages, hard cover. Published by Kane Miller Book Publishers, 2007 (American edition).
Cherry the Pig is a simple story, and one beginning readers could do with coaching and encouragement, Yamada’s newest American release has a lot to teach. The lessons, how we see things differently from the way our neighbor might, the value of diversity and how paybacks can turn around, are gently expressed in the story.
Cherry the pig loves to eat – and loves to cook. She expresses herself through cooking special treats for those she loves, for her customers and for a cooking contest. On her way to the contest, she’s saddened to overhear criticism of her delicate entry.
Grandkids and grandparents will learn how the contest concludes and how Cherry repays the mice who made fun of her prize recipe. The story is fun - a quick read, but long enough for a snuggle. The illustrations made me nostalgic for the 1950s and 60’s with a line drawing, 2-color affect, a camera-angle perspective and enough busy action to keep grandkids engaged in pointing to familiar items.
Not much to pick on, except, perhaps the price, but books are costly these days and this one measures up.
New Clothes for New Year’s Day by Hyun-Joo Bae (writer/illustrator). ISBN 978-1-933605-29-6. $15.95, 32 pages., hard cover w/dust jacket. Published by Kane Miller Book Publishers, 2007 (American edition).
Any little grand daughter, from toddler to primary grader will adore New Clothes for New Year’s Day. It’s everything we look for in a children’s book. Hyun-Joo Bae is Korean – and she sweeps you up, whisking you off to her country. She never forgets that, in some ways, little girls are the same everywhere.
Hyun-Joo Bae’s main character, just about your granddaughter’s age, tells about her New Year’s celebration clothes as she dresses to party with family and friends. She’s cute as a button – you’ll love her expressions and postures.
Charming drawings made me browse through the book three or four times before I even read the text. The artwork reminds me of classic paper dolls – I wanted them to be paper dolls so I could play. And the text doesn’t disappoint. It’s translated to English, of course, but never makes you feel out of step.
Like most Kane-Miller books, the quality of binding, paper and print is high. The story teaches, step-by-step, an important Korean holiday tradition, and its meaning. There’s a true sense of place and an appreciation for differences. Gather your girls, invite the boys, too, and have a great read.
This is one to own – to be enjoyed many times over the years.
