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DANCIN' IN THE KITCHEN

Name: DANCIN' IN THE KITCHEN
Author: Wendy Gelsanliter
ISBN: 0-399-23035-1

by Wendy Gelsanliter & Frank Christian & illustrated by Marjorie Priceman ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 1998

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Spices don’t have to come from jars—this family flavors its cooking with promenades and pirouettes. When the grandparents, parents, and children gather to make a meal, the first ingredient is music: “Dancin’ in the kitchen/The family’s packed in tight/I think we may be/Dancin’ in the kitchen all night.” Priceman’s illustrations are a bright salsa of mango, olive, blueberry, and tomato, and the stirring, dipping, mixing, and waltzing of the characters are contagious. Sometimes the rhyme is a little stodgy, but for families who like to have both the radio and the stove on high, this book cooks. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1998

ISBN: 0-399-23035-1

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Putnam

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1998

Categories:

CHILDREN'S FAMILY

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MY DAY WITH GONG GONG

by Sennah Yee ; illustrated by Elaine Chen ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 8, 2020

A multilayered, endearing treasure of a day.

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Spending a day with Gong Gong doesn’t sound like very much fun to May.

Gong Gong doesn’t speak English, and May doesn’t know Chinese. How can they have a good day together? As they stroll through an urban Chinatown, May’s perpetually sanguine maternal grandfather chats with friends and visits shops. At each stop, Cantonese words fly back and forth, many clearly pointed at May, who understands none of it. It’s equally exasperating trying to communicate with Gong Gong in English, and by the time they join a card game in the park with Gong Gong’s friends, May is tired, hungry, and frustrated. But although it seems like Gong Gong hasn’t been attentive so far, when May’s day finally comes to a head, it is clear that he has. First-person text gives glimpses into May’s lively thoughts as they evolve through the day, and Gong Gong’s unchangingly jolly face reflects what could be mistaken for blithe obliviousness but is actually his way of showing love through sharing the people and places of his life. Through adorable illustrations that exude humor and warmth, this portrait of intergenerational affection is also a tribute to life in Chinatown neighborhoods: Street vendors, a busker playing a Chinese violin, a dim sum restaurant, and more all combine to add a distinctive texture.

A multilayered, endearing treasure of a day. (glossary) (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Sept. 8, 2020

ISBN: 978-1-77321-429-0

Page Count: 36

Publisher: Annick Press

Review Posted Online: June 29, 2020

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2020

Categories:

CHILDREN'S FAMILY

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THE INFAMOUS RATSOS

From the Infamous Ratsos series , Vol. 1

by Kara LaReau ; illustrated by Matt Myers ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 2, 2016

A nicely inventive little morality “tail” for newly independent readers.

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Two little rats decide to show the world how tough they are, with unpredictable results.

Louie and Ralphie Ratso want to be just like their single dad, Big Lou: tough! They know that “tough” means doing mean things to other animals, like stealing Chad Badgerton’s hat. Chad Badgerton is a big badger, so taking that hat from him proves that Louie and Ralphie are just as tough as they want to be. However, it turns out that Louie and Ralphie have just done a good deed instead of a bad one: Chad Badgerton had taken that hat from little Tiny Crawley, a mouse, so when Tiny reclaims it, they are celebrated for goodness rather than toughness. Sadly, every attempt Louie and Ralphie make at doing mean things somehow turns nice. What’s a little boy rat supposed to do to be tough? Plus, they worry about what their dad will say when he finds out how good they’ve been. But wait! Maybe their dad has some other ideas? LaReau keeps the action high and completely appropriate for readers embarking on chapter books. Each of the first six chapters features a new, failed attempt by Louie and Ralphie to be mean, and the final, seventh chapter resolves everything nicely. The humor springs from their foiled efforts and their reactions to their failures. Myers’ sprightly grayscale drawings capture action and characters and add humorous details, such as the Ratsos’ “unwelcome” mat.

A nicely inventive little morality “tail” for newly independent readers. (Fiction. 5-8)