Debbi Michiko Florence, illustrated by Jim Caputo,
China: A Kaleidoscope Kids Book
Williamson Books, 2008.

Ages 8-13

Debbi Michiko Florence has condensed 4,000 years of Chinese civilization into 92 pages of fun and accessible information with this attractive book in the Kaleidoscope Kids series. Readers get a snapshot of everything from history and government to landscape, weather, art, entertainment, philosophy, science, holidays, family life, recipes, language, and more in this colorful book.

Each page features either a color photograph or whimsical, comic-style illustrations that bring the subject to life. The text consists of three or four concise paragraphs on each page, arranged so that they are, frankly, hard not to read.  Indeed the book’s design, by Jenny Eber Hancock, is as much an element of the book’s success as the words and pictures.  Graphics and sidebars offer succinct explanations of the Chinese Zodiac; information and pictures of native Chinese animals; maps; and resources for further learning.  There is a lesson on how to count to ten in Mandarin, as well as how to write it using Chinese calligraphy; a grid of common words and phrases; and other tid-bits of Mandarin, spelled in pin-yin (Roman characters) and accompanied by phonetic spelling, peppered throughout the pages. 

Recipes for kid-friendly dumplings and easy moon cakes; games such as Chinese jump rope; art activities such as making clay soldiers and your own paper; stories from Chinese history and folklore; and other features bring the culture to life for every child and learning style.  The book is great for both parents and educators as many of the activities are intended for larger groups such as classrooms, but at least as many would be equally fun family activities.  While the book’s appeal certainly reaches across generations, children can also easily enjoy it on their own and are likely to educate their parents about all the amazing things they learn.  It is hard to imagine a better or more comprehensive introduction to China for this age group.