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HomeShop at BookSurgeEducationProfessional DevelopmentBaby Crane and Other Animal Tales (Chinese Edition) |
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| Customer Reviews: | | Average Customer Review: ( 3 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Welcome Relief on the Road to Learning Chinese Jul 02, 2007
By Jeffrey H. Mindich
The road to Chinese fluency is a long and difficult one. I speak from experience, as an American who now frequently lectures in Chinese, and has several books published in the Chinese language. When something comes along that makes the walk down that long, tedious road a little less burdensome, it is most welcome. For those who are currently on the journey, Candace Tong-li's "Baby Crane and Other Animal Tales" may be such a thing. "Baby Crane" will be a breath of fresh air compared to the rote and tedious learning of Chinese language textbooks. Sometimes, the quickest and most direct way to learn is "Just Do It." Years ago, when I was trying to learn to read Chinese newspapers, there were books that had sample articles with the vocabulary and grammar, etc. etc. I chose to just pick up a newspaper and start reading. When I came to words that stopped me in my tracks so I couldn't fathom the meaning, I pulled out the dictionary. I believe Candace's book can be used in the same way. Much of the vocabulary is quite basic, so as a first reader of Chinese it should be a little challenging, but not too much so. For those with a bit of basic Chinese under their belt, just start reading, and for the occasional word you don't know, look it up. You'll progress much faster than having a teacher sit and hold your hand with a vocabulary and sentence structure list. It's also quite colloquial, unlike "textbook Chinese." Not to mention the story and illustrations by nine year old Candace Tong-li are quite charming. I heartily recommend this to all of those who are involved in the study of Chinese.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Simple and Beautiful Lines May 22, 2007
By K. X. Cai
I must have bought over half a dozen of Candace' Baby Crane, for friends' and relatives' toddlers and preschoolers, for no other reason than that I think it is a great book for children, American and Chinese alike. For the little competitive minds, the fact it's a book by a nine year old is a source of encouragement and inspiration. But what I love most about the book is Candace's drawings, a beautiful combination of minimalist style and expressiveness. The book is in black and white; there is no colour, no shades, no framework, no elaborated background and foregrounds. You will see only simple lines; lines on very clean pages; lines transformed into shapes and into stories that Candace wanted to tell the world. It's much more demanding to use the simplest medium to convey rich and abstract concepts, such as love, innocence, kindness, and happiness. You will feel those emotions when you turn the pages. For those who read Chinese, the stories are original and sweet, much livelier than some of the Chinese toddler's learning books I got from Xing Hua Bookstore in Shanghai. I sometimes read the book to my 10 month old twins in Chinese. But most of the time, I just flip the pages with them and look at the drawings and make up a story. The drawings will give you imaginations for numerous good stories. Chinese is by no means a prerequisite to enjoy this book.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Candace Tong's Baby Crane and Other Animal Tales May 12, 2007
By Arthur Waldhorn
"raving reader"
A charming, engaging work by a 12-year-old artist and author. Her drawings are fresh and imaginative, her narrative (unless your Chinese is fluent) is simple enough to follow without the words.
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