Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Doubleday & Company (1938), 48 pages
Description
After spending an eventful day at the fair held on New Year's Eve, Mei Li arrives home just in time to greet the Kitchen God.
User reviews
LibraryThing member mmuncy
Mei Li wants to go with her brother and uncle to the New Year Fair, but little girls are supposed to stay at home. She sneaks away then convinces her brother to take her with him. While at the fair her brother teases her that girls can not do anything at the fair. Everything she does he has to do
This won the Caldecott in 1939. It was nice to read this for posterity's sake, but I felt like the message was that girls belong at home, and those girls who belong at home, become women who belong.
I might use this for older students if we were learning about either the early 1900s or China. I don't think it's a book I write a unit around.
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one better. When she has her fortune read, she is told she will rule a knigdom. They return home that night to await the kitchen god. The kitchen god tells Mei Li that her home is her kingdom and she rules all in it.This won the Caldecott in 1939. It was nice to read this for posterity's sake, but I felt like the message was that girls belong at home, and those girls who belong at home, become women who belong.
I might use this for older students if we were learning about either the early 1900s or China. I don't think it's a book I write a unit around.
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LibraryThing member danielleprice
This book is about set in the Chinese culture. It is about a little girl who wanted to go to the fair that was being held in the city. But, she was told that she was too young to attend, so she snuck out and decided to go with her brother. She wanted to convince her brother that there were things
I thought this book was..."okay." For some reason I wasn't able to "get into" it. I did think that it was very culturally specific. It described the Chinese culture and had pictures and descriptions of some of the things from their culture. I thought it did show alot about the Chinese culture, and it was from a child's perspective.
This book could be used when studying different cultures in the classroom. It would be a great way to introduce something about the Chinese culture. Another idea would be to use this book to describe the differenes in the fair described in the book, and the fairs that students may be familiar with here in the U.S.
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that a girl could do at the fair. She goes along proving this to him for a while; when suddenly things begin to happen that scare her. She becomes frightened over some things her brother was doing to her. The story ends as they make it back to the house before the gate closes in order for them to be there when the Kitchen God arrives. I thought this book was..."okay." For some reason I wasn't able to "get into" it. I did think that it was very culturally specific. It described the Chinese culture and had pictures and descriptions of some of the things from their culture. I thought it did show alot about the Chinese culture, and it was from a child's perspective.
This book could be used when studying different cultures in the classroom. It would be a great way to introduce something about the Chinese culture. Another idea would be to use this book to describe the differenes in the fair described in the book, and the fairs that students may be familiar with here in the U.S.
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LibraryThing member artlibby
Young Mei Li disobeys her parents and the traditions of her society by following her brother into the walled city the morning before New Year's Day. The story takes place in China almost a century ago, and readers will delight in this little girl's adventure into the city as well as her attempts to
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leave the city before the gates close for the night! Mei Li is both curious and brave, and readers will relate to her attempts to prove herself worthy of the trip in her big brother's eyes. The realistic black and white illustrations coincide perfectly with the text, and young listeners will take their time absorbing the details of this foreign time and place. Both author and artist, Handforth lived in China for several years, and claimed that the story was based on a real Chinese girl. Beyond the Chinese cultural markers, children will identify with Mei Li's young spirit. A must for elementary school libraries and art libraries. Show Less
LibraryThing member pvhslibrarian
Personal Review:
Mei Li is often told that she's just a girl and not valued. The story is somewhat fragmented and choppy. The action jumps from a scene with an acrobat to one with a bear to another with actors and yet another with circus performers and eventually with a skinny priest. In the end,
Even though it is dated, it still has the power to interest the children that read it. Set in 1939 China, the images and story presented here will last for all time. A beautiful little picture book full of classic illustrations.
Mei Li is often told that she's just a girl and not valued. The story is somewhat fragmented and choppy. The action jumps from a scene with an acrobat to one with a bear to another with actors and yet another with circus performers and eventually with a skinny priest. In the end,
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her family comes looking for her and tells her that she is their princess when she lives within the walls of their house. If nothing else, Mei Li tells the tale of cultural values from long ago.Even though it is dated, it still has the power to interest the children that read it. Set in 1939 China, the images and story presented here will last for all time. A beautiful little picture book full of classic illustrations.
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LibraryThing member artlibby
Young Mei Li disobeys her parents and the traditions of her society by following her brother into the walled city the morning before New Year's Day. The story takes place in China almost a century ago, and readers will delight in this little girl's adventure into the city as well as her attempts to
Show More
leave the city before the gates close for the night! Mei Li is both curious and brave, and readers will relate to her attempts to prove herself worthy of the trip in her big brother's eyes. The realistic black and white illustrations coincide perfectly with the text, and young listeners will take their time absorbing the details of this foreign time and place. Both author and artist, Handforth lived in China for several years, and claimed that the story was based on a real Chinese girl. Beyond the Chinese cultural markers, children will identify with Mei Li's young spirit. A must for elementary school libraries and art libraries. Show Less
LibraryThing member langerer
This is a story about a little Chinese girl who goes to city with her brother even though she is not supposed to leave her house. The story takes place on the Chinese New Year. She has an adventure in the city with many different festivities. She wants to be the princess. In the end she learns she
A wonderful story about a curious child. I loved the adventure she had.
I would use this book in a Social Studies activity. It would be a good tool to enlighten the students on how different countries celebrate the same holidays we do, but in different manners and also on different days.
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is the princess of her own family.A wonderful story about a curious child. I loved the adventure she had.
I would use this book in a Social Studies activity. It would be a good tool to enlighten the students on how different countries celebrate the same holidays we do, but in different manners and also on different days.
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LibraryThing member NicolesBubble
Mei Li is an inaative story of a young chines girl and finding her place as a girl the night of the Kichen Gods arrival. Mei Li is determined to show her older brother San Yu that she can do anything that he can during their adventure to thr New Year's Fair and the present that her and her borther
This story reminds me of my yound niece Haylie, who believe that she can find away to do it all. Although Haylie has a very vibrate imagination she is a a true princess in our eyes.
In the Classroom I think it would alot of fun for the students to dress up just like Mei Li and San Yu. Also draw pictures of what types of presants they would like to bring to the Kitchen God.
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will bring home to the Kitchen God.This story reminds me of my yound niece Haylie, who believe that she can find away to do it all. Although Haylie has a very vibrate imagination she is a a true princess in our eyes.
In the Classroom I think it would alot of fun for the students to dress up just like Mei Li and San Yu. Also draw pictures of what types of presants they would like to bring to the Kitchen God.
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LibraryThing member hvachetta
Mei Li wants to go to the New Year's Fair, but what can a girl do there? This is an old story, about a precocious girl who wants to have adventures. She eventually learns that her place is in the home. Because of the cultural values at the time this book was written, it doesn't translate well with
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today's societal values. Most parents and teachers want to instill a sense of pride in young females, and the time for books like is long past. Show Less
LibraryThing member elpowers
Interesting story, nice black and white illustrations. A little jumpy.
LibraryThing member Truly.Mae.Pettijohn
Summary: A brother and a little sister sneak out for New Years Eve and has adventure with a circus. They return home in time to meet the Kitchen God.
Personal Summary: Such a fun story. The art work is black and white folk. If I have children I would enjoy reading this to them.
Classroom Extension:
Personal Summary: Such a fun story. The art work is black and white folk. If I have children I would enjoy reading this to them.
Classroom Extension:
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1) Study how different cultures have New Years Eve. 2) What different foods they eat. 3) How did cultures trade and what did they ride on. Show Less
LibraryThing member BookConcierge
Mei Li is the youngest child in a loving family. She’s easy to spot with her “candle stick” pigtail atop her head. One day she goes with her brother to the New Year Fair. They have many adventures and eat wonderful treats, but almost miss getting back through the city gates!
Originally
Originally
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published in 1938, this won the 1939 Caldecott medal. Wonderful illustrations bring the Chinese cultural celebration to life. This is a great way to introduce very young children to a different country and its culture. The children get into a few scrapes, but all ends well. Show Less
LibraryThing member DianeVogan
I loved the story descriptions and drawings about what the little girl Mei Li saw at the Chinese New Year Fair.
Awards
Caldecott Medal (Medal Winner — 1939)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1938
Physical description
48 p.; 12.2 x 0.5 inches
Pages
48
ISBN
0385081553 / 9780385081559