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    The Children's Book Review

    My First Book of Chinese Words: An ABC Rhyming Book | Book Review

    Elizabeth VaradanBy Elizabeth Varadan3 Mins Read ABC's Ages 0-3 Ages 4-8 Cultural Wisdom Picture Books Poetry & Rhyme Travel
    My First Book of Chinese Words
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    Elizabeth Varadan | The Children’s Book Review | April 13, 2014

    My First Book of Chinese WordsMy First Book of Chinese Words: An ABC Rhyming Book

    Story by Faye-Lynn Wu, Illustrations by Aya Padrón

    Age Range: 3 and up

    Hardcover: 32 pages

    Publisher: Tuttle Publishing; Hardcover with Jacket edition (February 12, 2013)

    ISBN-13: 978-0804843676

    What to Expect: Beautiful illustrations, rhymes, and small facts that introduce a young person to the Chinese language.

    This unique and charming alphabet book uses rhymes and fact snippets to introduce Chinese words to a pre-schooler. The words are written in Pinyin, a sound system using Roman letters to write Chinese sounds. Words introduced are significant in Chinese culture, but relatable in any culture. An example: “H is for hóng.” Hóng is the Chinese word for the color red, and pre-school children in general have an interest in naming colors. But red is an especially meaningful color in Chinese culture, so its definition bridges cultures for the young learner.

    The author uses an appealing format: At the top of each page, letters in alphabetical sequence introduce a new word with a rhyming quatrain. Below that, or to one side, the word is written in Chinese script, rather than Pinyin. At the bottom of the page, a small paragraph gives information about why the word is significant in Chinese culture. The page’s illustration shows people engaged in an activity that expresses the meaning of the word.

    “In Chinese culture the dragon means strength, generosity, and good luck. In Chinese neighborhoods all over the world the dragon dance celebrates happy occasions.”

    The end-rhyme poems don’t always have a consistent rhythm, but they do have a lyrical tone, and they lend themselves visually to Aya Padrón’s expressive illustrations. The nuggets of information are concise and interesting. A helpful preface provides aids to pronunciation. A website is provided for young listeners to actually hear the words pronounced.

    My First Book of Chinese Words Illustration by Aya Padron
    Illustration copyright © 2013 Aya Padron

    This book will appeal to pre-school children, who are interested in Chinese culture and themes and like to learn new words from other languages.

    Add this book to your collection: My First Book of Chinese Words: An ABC Rhyming Book

    About the Author

    Faye-Lynn Wu was born and raised in Taiwan. Her experiences of teaching her own children in the U.S. and managing language programs for early education have led her to focusing on introducing language to kids in the most positive way possible. She is the admissions officer at an independent school in Berkley, California, serves on the board of a Chinese language school, and teaches Mandarin. She is the author of Chinese and English Nursery Rhymes.

    About the Illustrator

    Aya Padron is a freelance artist who works in many media, among them painting and photography. She is the illustrator of Korean for Beginners and My First Book of Korean Words.

    About the Reviewer

    My First Book of Chinese Words: An ABC Rhyming Book, story by Faye-Lynn Wu and illustrations by Aya Padrón, was reviewed by Elizabeth Varadan.

    What to Read Next:

    1. If You Were Me and Lived in … India: A Child’s Introduction to Culture Around the World | Dedicated Review
    2. If You Were Me and Lived in … Kenya: A Child’s Introduction to Culture Around the World | Dedicated Review
    3. If You Were Me and Lived in … Australia, by Carole P. Roman | Dedicated Review
    4. If You Were Me and Lived in Russia, by Carole P. Roman | Dedicated Review

    *Disclosure: Please note that this post may contain affiliate links that share some commission. Rest assured that these will not affect the cost of any products and services promoted here. Our team always provides their authentic opinion in all content published on this site.

    Alphabet Books Asia Aya Padrón China Chinese Faye-Lynn Wu Introduction To Culture Language World Cultures
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    Elizabeth Varadan
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    Elizabeth Varadan writes for children and adults. Her middle-grade mystery, Imogene and the Case of the Missing Pearls (published June 15, 2015), is set in Victorian London and she is currently working on Book Two. Varadan loves to read and write about the Victorian Era and blogs about the many things she uncovers in her research. Visit: elizabethvaradansfourthwish.blogspot.com and victorianscribbles.blogspot.com

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