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  • Ten Blocks to the Big Wok: A Chinatown Counting Book (Chinese and English Edition)

Ten Blocks to the Big Wok: A Chinatown Counting Book (Chinese and English Edition)

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ten blocks to the wok

Book Information

Category
Picture Book
Reader Personality Type
Illustrator
Publisher
Childrens Book Press January 2022
Year Published
2022
Curriculum
Mathematics Curriculum

This charming bilingual English/Mandarin counting book uses a stroll through Chinatown to introduce readers to the numbers one through ten in Chinese ... and will leave you hungry besides!

As Mia and her uncle Eddie travel the ten blocks from their apartment to the Big Wok restaurant, Mia spies one giant panda ride, two lion statues, three swimming turtles, four bonsai trees, five tai chi practitioners ... There are so many things to see in Chinatown! And when they reach the Big Wok, they find ten yummy dim sum dishes to eat. But what route should they take back home?

This sweet story about a girl, her uncle, and a little cat they meet on the way accomplishes multiple fun and useful aims: It's a fully bilingual counting book that teaches readers the numbers one through ten in both simplified Mandarin and English. It provides a fun tour of a typical Chinatown--a beloved neighborhood in many cities around the world. Children will enjoy spotting the kitten in every illustration as it trails Mia and Uncle Eddie through the streets. And with each item that Mia encounters on her walk, the book introduces some fascinating new aspect of Chinese culture or myth, as explained in the friendly backmatter. Join Mia and Uncle Eddie as they wander Ten Blocks to the Big Wok!---from the publisher

40 pages                            978-1643790688                                  Ages 4-7

Keywords:  counting, Asian culture, cat, bilingual, diverse books, diversity, 4 year old, 5 year old, 6 year old, 7 year old

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It’s ten blocks through Chinatown to the Big Wok, Mia and Uncle Eddie’s favourite restaurant. On the walk there, Mia counts all the interesting things she sees – one giant panda, two lion statues, three toy turtles.... But will she remember how many dumplings to get for Grandmama?

This is a joyful journey that not only has the anticipation of some delicious food at its destination, but also highlights all the things that we can see if we take the time to look and don't whizz past in the car.  Added to the symbols and words for counting to 10 in Mandarin is the little kitten who joins them as they step out of the house -and gets his reward!  Little ones will enjoy finding him in each of the stunning illustrations. Not only will there be many who will delight in seeing themselves in this story, but the author has included notes about each of the things that Mia and Uncle Eddie see and their place in Chinese culture so all readers will learn something.,

There is also a chart that shows the Mandarin symbols, words and their pronunciation for one to ten which could inspire creating similar charts for all the other languages spoken in the classroom, perhaps even an investigation into the story of numbers, in itself a fascinating study that links research and mathematics. For those just beginning to learn to count, go on a maths walk around the school or neighbourhood and take photos of the groups of items discovered to create your own "ten blocks" story. Add captions that emphasise the numbers, numerals and words.

Recommended by:  Barbara Braxton, Teacher Librarian, New South Wales AUSTRALIA

See more of her recommendations:

500 Hats http://500hats.edublogs.org/

The Bottom Shelf http://thebottomshelf.edublogs.org/

Storybook Cushions http:// bit.ly/storybook_cushions

 

Keywords:  counting, Mathematics Curriculum, Asian culture, cat, city living, bilingual, Chinese/English, 4 year old, 5 year old, 6 year old, 7 year old, diversity, diverse books

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