Ten of my Children’s Favorite Chinese Books – Part 2
<Blog by Alice Wong>
Following last year’s blog, I’ve had several requests for more recommendations. My children have grown up a little and so have their tastes in books.
Isabella is now 3 and Patito who prefers to be called Patricio now, is approaching 5. Below is just a selection of their favorites. Again, I have included quite a few that have English versions (most of which were originally written in English and subsequently translated into Chinese), so that you can experience the same stories with your child and expose them to both languages.
I hope that your children will adore these books too. There are just so many fabulous books to choose from. Please write in and let me know what you think. I would love to recommend more based on your child’s preferences.
(1) “EAT” Cried Little Pig (ISBN: 957-745-765-7)) – Translated from the original English version, written by Jonathan London and illustrated by Delphine Durand
This is one of Isabella’s favorites.
This little pig is extremely messy. His first and only word is “EAT”. It’s written in an easy to read almost poetic rhythm. When he eats, food gets in his hair, on the chair, the clothes…absolutely everywhere. Father thinks he is disgusting, Mother says he is just a baby after all. In the end, just as she puts him to bed, he utters his second word “ Clean”, but will he really keep things clean?
(2) New Year Reunion, A (ISBN: 978-986-161-247-8)) – English version available, translated from the original Chinese version written by Yu Li-Qiong and illustrated by Zhu Cheng-Liang
This is without a doubt, my favorite book. It is a moving book. Patricio calls it the sad book.
It’s Chinese New Year, the father returns home from work once a year. His little girl gets up early to meet him at the station, but she doesn’t recognize him until he has had a shave at the barbers. They slowly become reacquainted. Life is different and amazing having her father around. They even get to mend the roof. Unfortunately soon it was time for him to leave again.
(3) Diary of a Worm (ISBN: 957-762-359-X)) – Translated from the original version in English, written by Doreen Cronin and illustrated by Harry Bliss
This is a really funny book, written in the form of a diary from the perspective of a worm. It talks about what it’s like to be a worm, the annoyances and the benefits.
14th April, Today I forgot to bring my lunch, I was so hungry I ate my homework. The teacher told me to write ten times, “ I will not eat my homework again”. When I finished, I ate that piece of paper as well.
(4) The 12 Animals of the Chinese Zodiac (ISBN: 978-986-794-2371)
Patricio loves this book. Just by listening, he remembers the order of the animals in the Chinese Zodiac.
A long time ago, there was a race. The first 12 animals to cross the river would be members of the Chinese Zodiac. The Rat cheated the Ox and ran in first. The Ox was so angry that he forever glares forward with massive round eyes. The tiger is 3rd, rabbit 4th, Dragon 5th. Just as the horse was coming in, the snake suddenly slithered in front and gave the horse the fright of his life, making him forever fearful. The story continues with a real sense of humor. It’s a well-written with fabulous illustrations.
(5) The Chicken Egg Older Brother (ISBN: 986-7188-34-9)
This is a cute book. The story is about an older brother who refuses to grow up and become a chick. He prefers to stay in the comfort of being an egg. As an egg, you can still sleep under the Mother Hen; hide in inconspicuous places, and even float on the surface of the water. One day he is chased down by a crow and the unimaginable happened…he hits a rock and the shell cracks! You know what? He is a pretty handsome chick after all.
(6) The 100th Customer (ISBN: 978-957-745-652-6)) – Translated from the original English version, written by K. T. Hao, Byung-Gyu Kim and illustrated by Giuliano Ferri
I absolutely love this book. It is a heartwarming book that is playfully written in rhyme, making it easy and fun to read.
The Bear and the Crocodile opens a restaurant selling only Pizza and Desserts. An old grandmother walks in with her grandson and she orders the cheapest pizza. The grandson says, “Are you really not going to eat grandma?” The grandma says, “I’ve already eaten, please go ahead”. The Bear and the Crocodile pretends they were the 100th customer and rewards them with a
free pizza. The next day, the little boy sits by the sidewalk counting each customer that entered the restaurant, in the hope of winning a pizza for his grandma.
(7) When Dinosaurs came with everything (ISBN: 978-986-216-134-0)) – Translated from the original English version, written by Elise Broach and illustrated by David Small
This is a really fun book that plays on a boy’s fantasy. Imagine on a boring a day, you are asked to run errands with your mum and just about everything you buy or do comes with a free gift, a real life dinosaur! It’s like a dream come true for the little boy, and a nightmare for the mother… until the mother discovers how useful dinosaurs can be.
(8) Bunny Cakes (ISBN: 978-957-762-457-4) – Translated from the original English version, written by Rosemary Wells.
This is another one of Isabella’s favorites. It’s Grandma’s birthday. Max and his sister Ruby are making a cake for her. Max made an earthworm cake. He is the eager little brother that just wants to help, but ends up making a mess. He is repeatedly sent to the grocery store with Ruby’s shopping list; eggs, milk and flour. All the while he is trying to figure out a way to buy strawberry jam marsh mellows for his earthworm cake. In the end, Grandma is presented with 2 cakes, which one do you think she should eat first?
(9) The Alligator Who Loved His Vegetables (ISBN: 957-642-828-9)
This is
a lovely book to entice children to eat vegetables. The story begins with a farmer who finds a cute homeless alligator. He takes him in and feeds him all sorts of vegetables. The alligator grows up to be big and strong. One day a doctor comes to examine the people at the village. Everyone except the Alligator has parasites in their stomachs. This is because he loves to eat vegetables, so he has little green fighters that destroy parasites.
Whenever we serve vegetables, I’ll always remind Isabella, you need little green fighters otherwise you’ll have to see a doctor.
(10) The Crocodile and the Dentist (ISBN: 957-762-138-4) – Translated from the original English version, written by Taro Gomi
This is a very simple book about a little Crocodile who is suffering from a toothache. He is extremely afraid to see the dentist, but he must. The dentist is extremely afraid to see him, but he must. Everything is repeated in this way between the dentist and the crocodile. The dentist treats the crocodile’s cavity. It is so painful that the crocodile accidentally bites the dentist. “OUCH!” cries the crocodile. “OUCH” cries the dentist. The book ends with neither of them looking forward to seeing the other the next year. “ So I must never forget to brush my teeth”, says the crocodile. “So YOU must never forget to brush YOUR teeth”, says the Dentist.
