Ten blocks to the Big Wok: A Mandarin counting book by Ying-Hwa Hu

Subtitled A Mandarin counting book, this colourful walk through Chinatown in New York will encourage all readers to say the numbers out loud in both English and Mandarin, with the Chinese character and its pronunciation prominently displayed on each successive page. Mia and uncle Eddie are off to their favourite restaurant, the Big Wok to have dim sum. As they pass various shops in Chinatown, they see one panda, two lions, three turtles, four miniature trees and so on until they spy the ten red lanterns that signify the Big Wok. Each page is similarly designed with a fan on which is placed the number, the calligraphy of the number and the number in Mandarin. Each number has a sweeping illustration covering two pages, and reflecting something often seen in Chinese restaurants and in Chinatown. So Mia sees a fish tank, a stall which sells Chinese fruits, people practising Tai Chi, a cluster of beautiful fans, a shelf of fortune kittens, and finally dim sum, with an array of treats.

Dim sum is laid out in numbers one to ten encouraging the reader to practise the words they have learnt. There are ten dumplings, nine wontons, eight shumai, three spring rolls, two egg tarts and one bowl of steamed anchovies which Mia takes to the cat outside. By now the reader will have noticed the cat which appears on each page following Mia expecting a feed as well.

The illustrations are a delight, reflecting the vistas of Chinatown and the things children will see there. Detail on each page is enticing, especially the images of food which children will recall eating.

And some teachers may bring in some of the food for them to try out.

At the end of this exciting book is a list of the numbers, and a glossary of some of the things seen in the book: panda, goldfish, paper lanterns and so on, to further inform the readers, encouraging them to read the book again. A wonderful book to read aloud and encourage children to join in to learn numbers in Mandarin.

Themes: Mandarin, Chinese food, Chinatown, Dim sum, Read aloud.

Fran Knight