Ruowen Wang, illustrated by Wei Xu,,
Little Wen: What's the Chinese Saying for This One?
Kevin & Robin Books, 2007

Rating: G*

Girls should not climb; learn to hold your tongue; that is not a question a little girl should ask; behave yourself like other girls, and don’t shame your family. This is what Wen hears from the adults in her life.

Chinese Canadian author Ruowen Wang brings her childhood memories to her book Little Wen. Wen’s mom and the female adult’s in her community believe Wen’s questions, giggles, ideas, energy, and curiosity are unacceptable behaviours for a little girl to exhibit. Wen’s name means well-mannered and cultured but her neighbours call her "a little mad girl".

After Wen’s peanut plant dies, she starts learning old Chinese sayings from her mom. One is about patience, and another about time and effort. There is no Chinese saying though for the embarrassment Wen causes her mom in the courtyard. It’s Wen’s questioning mind though that breaks the tension between mother and child.

This childhood story explores some of the traditional beliefs and values of the author’s parent’s generation. Clothing, parenting, and expectations are touched on in Wen’s story. My favourite part of the book is the afterward about the peanut plant.

Ruowen Wang lives in Toronto. She is no stranger to reading and children’s literature. She’s a collector of books and writings. Her dream is to become a publisher so she can promote multicultural children’s literature. Her other books include The Hidden Treasure, and Eenie Meenie Minie Moe. Wei Xu has illustrated several books for authors in China . He works in an advertising company as a chief designer. His home is in Toronto .

We see the vibrant and authentic Wen in Wei Xu’s illustrations. Wen’s extremely long pigtails are seldom still - and this could be because she’s always moving! She might be on a window ledge, or a shed roof, or half way up a tree. Her facial expressions are endless and understandable. I think the most telling picture is the one of Wen giving the peanut plant a hand in growing. I also liked page sixteen. I spent a lot of time looking at this picture of Wen and her mom.

I would buy this book for my library.

Thematic Links: Multicultural Children’s Books; Chinese Traditions and Beliefs; Mother-Daughter Relationships

Tanya Boudreau
Vol. 13, number 1
October 2007

*Rating System:
E - Excellent, enduring, everyone should see it!
G - Good, even great at times, generally useful!
A - Average, all right, has its applications.
P - Problematic, puzzling, poorly presented.