Ten Mice for Tet

Starred review from December 15, 2003
Weill, who worked for an international relief organization in Vietnam, Shea and Trang use a counting-book format to introduce readers to Tet—the Vietnamese new year—"as big a celebration as Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas combined!" according to the helpful and extensive endnotes. The book serves as a marvelous showcase for Viet Dinh's embroidery; Trang's clean compositions provide the template for the embroidery. The story follows ever-growing groups of mice in a traditional Vietnamese village as they prepare for and enjoy the Tet festivities. Some aspects of the pictures will strike a chord with readers regardless of their background—three mice clean their home, six mice open presents, 10 mice admire a fireworks display. But the book also emphasizes how a culture's beliefs shape the observance of a holiday. As "1 mouse plans a party," for instance, sinewy white-thread clouds of incense rise from an altar and waft through the room (the endnote explains that the fragrance and offerings are meant to beckon ancestors). Older readers will most appreciate the pictures' exquisite craftsmanship—every inch of every spread is covered in thread—but the cheery cartoon mice, the vivid Southeast Asian palette (the use of pink is particularly striking) and exuberant compositions will hold the interest of even the youngest readers. This attractive volume may well provoke a lively discussion of how another culture's holiday can seem both familiar and exotic. Ages 2-8.

Starred review from December 1, 2003
K-Gr 3-This accessible counting book is a lovely introduction to the Vietnamese New Year. Each spread features a short sentence ("1 mouse plans a party. 2 mice go to market") that is expanded upon by detailed pictures showing the preparations of the village. Remarkable, vividly colored, embroidered artwork enhances the text. The textural quality is still perceptible even though the pieces have been photographed, and readers are able to see the individual stitches in this fine workmanship. A thin black outline highlights the bright, flat figures whose faces have a cartoonlike look. Extensive endnotes following the number sequence take readers back through the book and allow for a more comprehensive explanation of the holiday. In this section, Vietnamese words are followed by the pronunciation in parentheses. This multileveled approach allows this title to be used with children of a wide range of ages. An excellent addition to any collection.-Tali Balas, Ethical Culture Fieldston School, New York City

Copyright 2003 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2003
PreS-Gr. 2. In a traditional counting-book format, mice prepare for their Tet celebration, from "one mouse" that plans a party to "ten mice" that watch fireworks. The bright, lively pictures, which convey various activities associated with the Tet celebration, were drawn on paper and then transferred to cloth and embroidered in cotton thread. The bare-bones text is a vehicle for the vibrant art, but it does provide a festive introduction to Tet for young children. Older children will examine the embroidery and discover more information in the notes. Appended notes elaborate on the text, explaining Vietnamese customs and traditions. The notes also provide pronunciation assistance, noting regional variations. An excellent choice for multicultural studies, this handsome counting book deserves a place in most collections.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2003, American Library Association.)