1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Simonds, Nina, Leslie Swartz, and the Children’s Museum, Boston. 2002. MOONBEAMS, DUMPLINGS & DRAGON BOATS: A TREASURY OF CHINESE HOLIDAY TALES, ACTIVITIES & RECIPES. Ill. by Meilo So. San Diego: Gulliver Books. ISBN 0152019839
2. PLOT SUMMARY
The authors of Moonbeams, Dumplings & Dragon Boats introduce readers to traditional Chinese folktales, recipes, and activities for celebrating five Chinese holidays—Chinese New Year, the Lantern Festival, Qing Ming, the Dragon Boat Festival, and the Moon Festival. For each holiday, background information and a folktale explaining the origin of the holiday is given. This is then followed by recipes and arts and crafts activities.
Readers hear about the greedy Kitchen God, the loyal Jie Zitui, the spirit of Qu Yuan, and the Moon Goddess’s jealousy. Along the way, children and their families can learn on how to prepare tasty dumplings, moon cakes, and fresh spring rolls.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Each folktale educates readers about Chinese culture, traditions, holidays and customs. The stories are about four pages each, and all are accompanied with illustrations. The illustrator does a wonderful job of introducing young readers to China through the wonderful Chinese artwork done with watercolors. Drawings of Chinese lanterns, dragons, lions, and Chinese calligraphy decorate the pages.
The stories are simple but can also teach children to appreciate diversity.
4. AWARD WORD AND REVIEW EXCERPTS
ABC Children’s Booksellers Choices Awards
KIRKUS REVIEWS: “Gorgeous watercolors complement and brighten each sampling as well as attract readers with their simple beauty and elegance.”
5. CONNECTIONS
*All the stories can be read at once to students, or each folktale can be read on the day of the particular holiday falls on.
*Teachers can use the activities the authors provide for each folktale to further supplement the readings.
Other books on Chinese culture
Vaughan, Marcia K. THE DANCING DRAGON. ISBN 1572551348
Lin, Grace. FORTUNE COOKIE FORTUNES. ISBN 0440421926
Image Credit: fun-books.com
No comments:
Post a Comment