Asia Books

The Pet Dragon: A Story about Adventure, Friendship, and Chinese Characters

Amazon Price: $11.55 List Price: $16.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Greenwillow Amazon Marketplace: 8 new & used starting at $10.37

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Baby-3 -> Basic Concepts -> Words
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Animals -> Pets -> Fiction
Subjects -> Children's Books -> People & Places -> Explore the World -> Fiction -> Asia

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Well drawn and a clever teaching tool 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I love this book! It is a large format so my son has a lot to look at and does not get as easily distracted as he does with smaller books. The pictures are also high contrast. I enjoy the illustration a great deal myself. And did I mention the clever integration of the Chinese characters into the illustration. I'm not sure yet how much my son has learned but it has taught me a lot. Great book!

Editorial Review:

Meet Lin and her pet dragon!

When the dragon mysteriously disappears, Lin sets off on a journey to find her best friend . . . and readers set off on a journey of learning and discovery.

By ingeniously integrating written Chinese characters into the illustrations as the story progresses, Christoph Niemann has created a book that is engrossing, unique, and memorable. The Pet Dragon is a playful introduction to the fascinating world of Chinese language and culture . . . and a terrific story to share with children everywhere.

You are invited to join Lin for an adventure you will not soon forget!

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Patricia Mccormick

Amazon Price: $8.99 List Price: $8.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Hyperion Book CH Amazon Marketplace: 47 new & used starting at $2.15

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 59 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

The Power in Believing 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Truthfully, I started this story and stopped. Started and stopped. I kept having nightmares in my sleep of Lakshmi. These dreams were so harrowing that I would have to step away and pick up another book with new words to scrub out the ones from Sold that conjured the images in my mind. (I know this may sound weird to some people but I'm aware that I operate like a sponge at times, making it very difficult for me not to feel. I'm just too spiritually sensitive to such things.)

In other words, Patricia McCormick writes with a brave and an unflinching eye. The story is told from the POV of Lakshmi. A novel of this proportion is difficult to summarize because this story is about everything: all that we hold dear and all that we fear, the hopes we have for our children and the dangers that exist for many other children in the world, the strife of women and the bias of men...I could go on and on but instead will focus on, what for me, is the novel's triumph: the power in believing.

Lakshmi believes that she is old enough to help earn money for her family; when they lose their crops to a monsoon and her stepfather demands that she be sold, Lakshmi is brave and looks forward to the opportunity to help. She believes that this will help the family put a tin roof over their home, clothes on her baby brother, and food in their stomachs.

Once she is sold, she believes Bajai Sita and Auntie are going to set her up for housework. When that doesn't happen, she is taken under the care of Uncle Husband, whom she believes will protect her but instead, he sells her into the hands of Mumtaz--the sadistic owner of a brothel called "Happiness House." This girl, for all that she is forced under in her sexual slavery, is strong. Initially, she believes her hunger can outlive Mumtaz's threat to starve her if she doesn't work. Actually, Lakshmi's belief is correct because it was Mumtaz who grew tired of waiting for Lakshmi to give in so Mumtaz begins drugging her.

The details from then on are harrowing and like I said, I had to put the novel away several times to give my mind a break from the pain Lakshmi endured. It was all so vivid and made all too real after reading McCormick's author note.

After a while, Lakshmi believes that she can pay off her debts. When she finds out that Mumtaz has no intention of letting her go, Lakshmi holds on to the belief that an American worker will rescue her...I won't say whether or not this happens for those who don't like endings to be spoiled.

I can't say enough about this book and yet there is so much more that my heart knows needs to be said, like the way the characters survive through the power of language, how education should not be a privilege but a right to every person in this world, the crisis of health care and fighting to educate communities about HIV, the power of friendship and memory...there's just so much in this novel. Goodness! I HEART McCormick for writing this book and you will too if you haven't read it already.

Peak

Roland Smith

Amazon Price: $6.95 List Price: $6.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Harcourt Paperbacks Amazon Marketplace: 37 new & used starting at $2.83

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 20 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

PCE Student Review 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

My favorite book is Peak by Roland Smith. Peak is the main character. Peak has not seen his long lost father because he got a divorce with Peak's mom. His dad asks him if he wants to climb Mt. Everest. Peak says yes. But the reason that he is going is because he has to. First he was climbing a NY skyscraper and people found out. So they told the Police. So then he has two decisions, 1-go to Juvey or go climb Everest with his long lost father for a couple of months. His dad owns a climbing company in Thailand. When they are climbing Mt Control stops them and says they can't climb Mt. Everest. So Peak, his father, and other climbers go with Peak on the other side of the mountain. When they reach the top this is what they see- an unbelievable view and lots of Os tanks and lots of snow. Lots of it. I like this book because it is very exciting. None of the pages are boring and none of Roland Smith's books are. I would recommend it to 10 yrs to young adults.

Editorial Review:

After Peak Marcello is arrested for scaling a New York City skyscraper, he’s left with two choices: wither away in Juvenile Detention or to go live with his long-lost father, who runs a climbing company in Thailand. But Peak quickly learns that his father’s renewed interest in him has strings attached. Big strings. He wants Peak to be the youngest person to reach the Everest summit—and his motives are selfish at best. Even so, for a climbing addict like Peak, tackling Everest is the challenge of a lifetime. But it’s also one that could cost him his life.

Breadwinner

Deborah Ellis

Amazon Price: $8.95 List Price: $8.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Groundwood Books Amazon Marketplace: 78 new & used starting at $0.92

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 65 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Since the Taliban took over Afghanistan, 11-year-old Parvana has rarely been outdoors. Barred from attending school, shopping at the market, or even playing in the streets of Kabul, the heroine of Deborah Ellis's engrossing children's novel The Breadwinner is trapped inside her family's one-room home. That is, until the Taliban hauls away her father and Parvana realizes that it's up to her to become the "breadwinner" and disguise herself as a boy to support her mother, two sisters, and baby brother. Set in the early years of the Taliban regime, this topical novel for middle readers explores the harsh realities of life for girls and women in modern-day Afghanistan. A political activist whose first book for children, Looking for X, dealt with poverty in Toronto, Ellis based The Breadwinner on the true-life stories of women in Afghan refugee camps.

In the wily Parvana, Ellis creates a character to whom North American children will have no difficulty relating. The daughter of university-educated parents, Parvana is thoroughly westernized in her outlook and responses. A pint-sized version of Offred from Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, Parvana conceals her critique of the repressive Muslim state behind the veil of her chador. Although the dialogue is occasionally stilted and the ending disappointingly sketchy, The Breadwinner is essential reading for any child curious about ordinary Afghans. Like so many books and movies on the subject, it is also eerily prophetic. "Maybe someone should drop a big bomb on the country and start again," says a friend of Parvana's. "'They've tried that,' Parvana said, 'It only made things worse.'" (Ages 9 to 12) --Lisa Alward

First Book of Sushi (World Snacks)

Amy Wilson Sanger

Amazon Price: $6.95 List Price: $6.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Tricycle Press Amazon Marketplace: 47 new & used starting at $2.20

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 4-8 -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 35 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

For families that place good food high on their list of priorities, educating their wee ones about the joys of sushi may be far more important than teaching about bunnies and balls and flowers. But even those who don't know futomaki from hatahata will relish the playful rhymes and lush collages in Amy Wilson Sanger's wonderful First Book of Sushi.

Miso in my sippy cup,
tofu in my bowl.
Crab and avocado
fill my California roll.

English-speaking tots will love wrapping their lips around Japanese words such as tekka maki, ebi, and wasabi, and will soon be joining in the bouncy recitation of sushi favorites for the very young. This bright little board book, with its gorgeous array of patterns and textured, mixed-media collages, looks good enough to eat. And who knows, it might even inspire picky eaters to try a little egg tamago or squishy salmon roe (otherwise known as ikura)! (Baby to preschool) --Emilie Coulter

Day Of The Dragon-King (Magic Tree House 14, paper)

Mary Pope Osborne

Amazon Price: $3.99 List Price: $3.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Random House Books for Young Readers Amazon Marketplace: 244 new & used starting at $0.01

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> History & Historical Fiction -> Fiction -> Ancient Civilizations
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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 30 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Day of the dragon kings 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

this book Its great because anyone liked cartoon this book would like him

MY BOY LOVES READING 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

My 1st grader hates to put it down, he would rather read Magic Tree House books, than play video games. He even reads them to his class and explains the story for show and tell. In his kindergarten class the teacher would also let him read the Magic Tree House books out loud, not to give her a break, but to promote reading out loud. Great books!

Great chapter books! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

My four year old son is in love with this chapter series! A friend suggested it to us since he seemed ready for a more advanced reading material at bedtime. My husband reads him a chapter every night...sometimes more because they don't want to stop. It's become a great tradition for them, and something they both look forward to. We love that there are so many in the collection! Start with number 1 and just continue. :)

Editorial Review:

Jack and Annie set off to find an original copy of an ancient Chinese myth. Armed only with their magic library cards, they must take on a book-burning emperor. But with the help of a scholar and a silk weaver, they triumph again.  

The Lotus Seed

Sherry Garland

Amazon Price: $7.00 List Price: $7.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Voyager Books Amazon Marketplace: 39 new & used starting at $3.58

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Symbol of a Lotus Seed 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This book helps me remember more about Vietnam and why I appreciate my culture so much. The significant symbolism of the lotus seed is the culture Vietnam and what the woman endurance in her past. Ba picked out a lotus seed from the imperial garden because of its beautiful and fresh scent. The lotus seed has never left her side as she carries it with her through the tragedy times and moved to a new country after the Vietnam War. One of her grandchildren planted the lotus seed in the backyard and it grew into a beautiful lotus flower. The beauty of it reminds Ba of her country.

This is definitely one of the best children's book I have ever read. The images are beautifully drawn as they describe Vietnam and the story. The symbolism of the lotus seed reminds me of my culture and I should never forget it. I really like how the author added a Vietnamese poem at the back. A must read for all young and old!

Editorial Review:

When she is forced to leave Vietnam, a young girl brings a lotus seed with her to America in remembrance of her homeland. “Exquisite artwork fuses with a compelling narrative--a concise endnote places the story effectively within a historical context--to produce a moving and polished offering.”--Publishers Weekly

A Pair of Red Clogs

Masako Matsuno

Amazon Price: $12.21 List Price: $17.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Purple House Press Amazon Marketplace: 27 new & used starting at $10.85

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

A childhood favorite! 5 out of 5 stars.
14 of 14 people found this review helpful.

It's lovely to see this book is back in print. I received a copy as a birthday gift when I was 5 years old (it was a new publication then!) and continue to treasure that same volume today. I also received a real pair of clogs from Japan about the same time, so the story took on even more meaning for me. I have an opportunity to teach a workshop in Japan in May about how our experiences are reflected in our artworks -- and this beautifully illustrated story which taught me so much about integrity, as well as Japanese culture, will be an important reference in my presentation. Simple lessons, so important to a child's character,kindly taught, DO last a lifetime! This is an important book for your child's library.

Editorial Review:

A child's delight in a new pair of shoes is the same all over the world, whether the shoes are patent-leather sandals, straw alpargatas, deerskin moccasins, or wooden clogs.

For Mako, a little Japanese girl, the new shoes were clogs painted with red lacquer that shone beautifully. This is the story of what happened after she cracked the new clogs playing the weather-telling game and so longed for a bright, shiny new pair to replace them that she almost did a dishonest thing.

The Story about Ping

Marjorie Flack, Kurt Wiese

Amazon Price: $10.87 List Price: $15.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Viking Juvenile Amazon Marketplace: 68 new & used starting at $1.07

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 79 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Don't Take it so Seriously 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

People who find this book cruel are taking it too seriously. Most of all, this book has been loved by all 5 of my children. It is clever and fun, and has a happy ending. I plan to continue reading it to children and maybe someday grandchildren.

Editorial Review:

The tale of a little duck alone on the Yangtze River, The Story About Ping is a sweet and funny book with wonderfully rich and colorful illustrations. On a day like any other, Ping sets off from the boat he calls home with his comically large family in search of "pleasant things to eat." On this particular day, he is accidentally left behind when the boat leaves. Undaunted, the little duck heads out onto the Yangtze in search of his family, only to find new friends and adventures--and a bit of peril--around every bend.

The exceptional illustrations bring the lush Yangtze to life, from Ping's family to the trained fishing birds he finds himself among to the faithfully rendered boats and fishermen. Certainly intended to be read aloud, The Story About Ping deserves a place on every young reader's (or listener's) shelf. (Picture book)

Yum Yum Dim Sum (World Snacks)

Amy Wilson Sanger

Amazon Price: $6.95 List Price: $6.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Tricycle Press Amazon Marketplace: 32 new & used starting at $0.01

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 15 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

LOVE this book--love the entire series! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

My son *loves* this book, as well as AWS's other books in the World Snacks series. You should have seen him labeling the siu mai and other dim sum on the carts at our local restaurant! So fun, educational and beautifully illustrated too.

A brilliant way to introduce our baby to cultural diversity... through food!!! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

My husband and I are both foodies. We love ethnic cuisines quite a bit. So, we are so happy that our little boy, who's almost a-year-and-half, already loves items like pasta, onigiri, dim sum, fried rice, taco, quesadilla, etc.

I was so excited when I discovered this book series one day. I thought it would be a great addition to his little library, as well as being a great supplement to our effort to introduce him to all the various yummy food different people throughout the world eat. I began with "Yum Yum Dim Sum." It provides lots of fun, helps him associate these yummy dishes with exciting pictures. I cannot wait to get more.

Highly recommended!!!

Great way to learn about foods 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

We have a series of these books for my son. We read them to him and he loves the pictures. It's a great way for him to be introduced to different kinds of food.