1001 stories 1-929132-92-1 Publisher's Weekly

1-929132-84-0
CurledUpKids.com (April 2006):

Lucky is an adorable dog living at a local animal shelter. He has everything he needs – food, water, friends and a comfortable bed. But what he would really like is a loving home. As Lucky watches his friends being adopted to good homes, he wonders if he will ever find a family of his own - until he realizes that family is where you find it, and his lives at the shelter.

This is a charming story that will no doubt inspire a child to want a shelter pet, and that’s a good thing. The colorful illustrations and simple text by Gus Clarke will delight younger children, but it is the fact that a percentage of the proceeds from the book go to benefit FOCAS, Friends of County Animal Shelters, that will please adults. And that is a great thing.

Lucky is one lucky dog, all right, and this book can teach children the value of looking for that perfect pet in a local shelter, rather than from a breeder or other outlet that adds to the existing overpopulation of dogs and cats. And that’s the best thing of all.

   
Education Oasis (February 5, 2006):

Lucky is a shelter dog that gives readers a dog's-eye-view of life in the pound. Luckily for Lucky the shelter owners are kind and sometimes "they bring people around to see if we'd like to go and live with them." Bernard, another pound hound, wants to be adopted but no one seems to want him. Lucky and the other pooches hatch a plot to help Bernard find a family. A warm and enjoyable tale.

National Association for Humane and Environmental Education

2006 KIND Children’s Honor Book Award

One by one, the dogs at the shelter find a home—all except Bernard, who hasn’t been discovered by the right person. One day, his furry sheltermates hatch a plan to make Bernie “top dog” when visitors arrive. How will they keep him from getting passed over? Readers will revel in the naughty scheme and cheer for the old pooch who finally becomes the pick of the litter. Reminding us that animal shelters are filled with wonderful companions and that senior pets deserve an extra look, this picturebook will be an instant favorite among humane educators.

CSCL Picture Book Reviews (July 5, 2006):

Lucky has everything that a dog could want, except for an owner. He has food, a roof over his head, and a place to sleep. Told through a dog’s perspective, this heartwarming story describes life in the pound. It is optimistic, providing its readers with a positive impression on what it is like for a dog living in the pound. The writing is simple and imaginative, combining pictures with words to tell the story. The full colored illustrations are comprised of paint and colored pencils and have texture and shadows that compliment Lucky’s story. Lucky helps each of his friends in the pound find a family and in the end finds himself a perfect match. This story for animal lovers is lively and inspirational, expressing an encouraging outcome for dogs that live in the pound.

LUKE'S WAY OF LOOKING

1-929132-18-2

Publishers Weekly (Monday, November 5, 2001):

Where Luke's classmates see symmetrical faces and blueprint-precise architecture, Luke sees rearranged features la Picasso and twisting towers in the style of Gaud!. But Luke's art instructor "[goes] ballistic" at signs of creativity. "He broke Luke's brushes into little tiny pieces. `What's wrong with you, boy?' Mr. Barraclough shouted." Luke meekly holds his torn painting, the only spot of color on the page; his English-style boys' school, sketched in pen-and-ink on a neutral ground, is no place to indulge whims. Everything changes when Luke wanders away from his black-and-white world and through the golden door of a "building that looked like an ancient palace." In the museum, he frolics among abstract paintings in the mode of Mondrian, Ernst and Pollock; his pale features and gray school uniform take on strong color that doesn't fade when he goes back to school. Australian team Wheatley and Ottley suggest that Luke is transfigured by his adventure: in the concluding image, a speechless Mr. Barraclough looks over Luke's shoulder, and their shadows blend so that Luke appears to have angel's wings. This cumbersome book resorts to artistic affectations as it labors to describe a free spirit.

School Library Journal (Saturday, June 1, 2002):

Another story of an artistic misfit, this Australian import is saved from formulaic triteness by the quality of its illustrations. Luke is tormented by an art teacher who lacks vision. His pictures are "different" from the work of his peers. If his classmates' apples are red and green, his may be blue. If the assignment is for realism, Luke's use of imagination earns him criticism. One day, Luke plays hooky, visits the art museum, and, for the first time in his life, he "feels at home." Imaginative paintings and sculpture give him the affirmation he needs. When he returns to school, he is ready to follow his own insights with the faith to persevere. Ottley's illustrations give strong meaning to the pictures in Luke's mind. Readers see the dull browns of the schoolroom, the threatening shadow of an overbearing and spiteful teacher, and finally the exuberant works displayed in the museum that give him the courage to persist. This is a very slight story, but one that is sure to have special meaning for students who have difficulty with conformity.

Museum Store (Winter 2001/2002):

This is a story for any child with a big imagination. Extraordinary illustrations convey the importance of self-expression and introduce children to the value of art museums.

MARC JUST COULDN'T SLEEP

1-929132-68-9

Booklist (Friday, October 15, 2004):

Marc can't sleep because he's afraid, so his resourceful mother comes up with all sorts of solutions…a useful title as it does address kids who seem to be afraid of everything and show parents at wits' end from trying to comfort them.

Hornbook Guide to Children (Saturday, January 1, 2005):

Marc's mother provides outrageous remedies for his bedtime fears, such as giving him "mosquito-proof armor" and standing guard on the roof. But nothing works until she sits on his bed and says, "…tell me everything." Some views of Marc are almost too cute; however, the illustrations portray the mom's frantic efforts with humor and lend poignancy to the resolution.

School Library Journal (Tuesday, February 1, 2005):

Keselman takes an imaginative approach to a familiar subject. Marc voices a series of nighttime fears to his mother, who attempts to soothe him in creative ways. When he tells her that he is afraid of being bitten by a giant bug, she makes him "mosquito-proof pajamas" (a wire basket), a helmet (colander), and a sword (straining spoon). She gives him a mountain-climbing rope and parachute to prevent falling out of bed, invents an "invisible trap for catching ghosts," and even climbs onto the roof to keep watch. When these efforts all fail, she admits she doesn't know what to do and sits down to listen while Marc tells her about his concerns. Of course, he falls asleep before he even begins. Villamuza's cartoons, done in earth tones, are simple and splendid. Marc is an appealing character with dark skin, curly black hair, and large round eyes. The artwork captures the affection he and his mother share and the large compositions are ideal for storytime.

MARTA AND THE BICYCLE

1-929132-35-2

Publishers Weekly (Monday, October 21, 2002):

With perfect poker-face kookiness, a Swiss team chronicles how an indefatigable, bicycle-loving bovine named Marta becomes a racing champion. Certain that her owner, Monsieur Gruyere, is too cheesy to buy her a two-wheeler, Marta builds one with parts scavenged from the town dump. Then she patiently teaches herself to ride. "She fell down. A lot. She scraped her hooves. She scraped her horns. She even scraped her tail." (This funny multi-drawing spread also contributes new words to the blooper vocabulary, such as "paf" and "spotch.") Albertine's watercolor-and-ink drawings combine an elegant fine black line with a nonchalantly loopy sensibility. Marta's tiny eyes radiate a cross-eyed determination, and none of the other bikers looks askance at her (perhaps because so many of them have the same chunky physique). Throughout the illustrations, signage appears in its original French-from "Poissonnier" on a fish delivery truck to "Arrivee" at the bike race finish-adding a nifty cosmopolitan touch. Although the trend-setting Marta is ready to move on at story's end ("If everyone is going to ride bicycles, I'll have to find something else," she says, as her fellow herd members balance on two wheels), youngsters will rally for a repeat rendezvous with this slyly funny heroine who refuses to be cowed.

Kirkus Reviews (October 1, 2002):

…the French Swiss author turns the legendary fondness of his countrymen for cows and bicycle riding into a story with a subtle sprinkling of a French lesson for good measure. Marta’s indomitable spirit plunging forth into new experiences is hard to resist.

Hornbook Guide to Children (Wednesday, January 1, 2003):

After watching a bicycle race, Marta the cow builds a bike of her own. She practices, and "thanks to her courage and hard work, she got better and better." Next year, Marta wins the race, beating the human cyclists and inspiring a cycling fad among cows. The droll text and loosely drawn illustrations are well matched in this free-spirited Swiss import.

THE MATS

0-916291-86-3

School Library Journal (September 1, 1999)

A picture-book adaptation of a short story first published in Philippine Magazine in 1938. In it, a father returns from a business trip to Manila with a gift of personalized sleeping mats for each member of his family. After everyone has received a mat, three remain, one for each of the couple's deceased children. Although the story has a young narrator, its overall tone is elegiac, and will speak more to adults than to youngsters. Alegre's richly colored paintings are done in a primitive, folk-art style. Family reminiscences with greater child appeal include Carmen Lomas Garza's Family Pictures/Cuadros de Familia (Children's Book Press, 1990) and Loretta Lopez's The Birthday Swap (Lee & Low, 1997), which is about a Mexican-American family. However, there are very few picture books about the Philippines available, and this one may be useful where demand warrants.

Booklist (April 15, 1999):

Originally a short story written more than 60 years ago, this picture book tells of a family in the Philippines awaiting the father's return. The father writes that he will be bringing each member of the family a special sleeping mat made by an artist. The anticipation builds, and finally each mat is lovingly unfolded. The last three mats, which have duller colors, are for three siblings who have died: "Do you think I'd forgotten them?" Papa asks. The tender, bittersweet story is illustrated in vibrant shades of yellow, blue, and red, adding warmth to the simple words. A good choice for talking about remembering people who have died or about family life in other cultures.

Kirkus Reviews (January 15, 1999):

Matching a text first published over 60 years ago (and adapted here) with vibrant new illustrations, this brief import from the Philippines offers a moving tale of one family's memorial to their lost ones. Marcelina and her six brothers and sisters welcome their father home from a business trip. As promised, he brings gifts: hand-woven sleeping mats “for every one of the family.” After the living receive theirs, three mats remain, one for each of the siblings who died young. Alegre's art is done in a muralistic style, with simple, monumental forms, stylized facial features, and bright, boldly contrasting colors. The language is sometimes awkward, “Papa's face was filled with a long-bewildered sorrow” but the emotions are strong and real. The story's brevity makes it a promising discussion-starter, and the idea that “They may be dead but they are never really gone” is presented without excess sentimentality.

Hornbook Guide to Children (Thursday, July 1, 1999):

In this Filipino story, Papa discovers a skilled mat weaver and asks him to create a different sleeping mat for each family member, including the three children who have died. With their vibrant colors and strong, simple figures, the illustrations are a good accompaniment for the loving, somewhat solemn, and rather abruptly ending text, which is adapted from a 1938 story.

MY CAT COPIES ME

978-1-933605-06-5

Curled Up Kids (January 16, 2007):

My Cat Copies Me, written and illustrated by Yoon-duck Kwon, was first published in Korea in 2005. Its target audience is young readers, ages four to six, probably those who love, live with and learn from cats. Kwon, from South Korea, has studied industrial design, fine brushwork painting and other forms of artwork. This is her first book.

The story centers on a young, pretty girl and her female calico cat who “copies” her. They are always together even though the cat is, admittedly, independent, as cats are wont to be. By the book’s end, the girl decides she wants to learn to copy the cat – play with new friends, not be afraid of the dark, become more independent. The cat’s actions and idiosyncrasies seem real to life, judging on my 30+ years of living with fascinating felines.

The book is handsome, sturdily made, with beautiful, lush illustrations. With or without the slip jacket, it is lovely. The illustrations are large and bold, primarily of the girl in ethnic Korean clothing and her cute cat, with books, toys, clothing, shoes, a bed – mostly interior scenes. The type is separate from the illustrations, easily read, in a legible typeface and font size. The only drawback is that the translation may have lost something somewhere alone the line; a couple of sections don’t transition smoothly.
Kane/Miller is a small publisher specializing in multicultural literature: “open-minded books opening young minds to the world.” Children all over the world love animals, and they must grow towards independence. Believing we all need to be more savvy and aware of other cultures, the publisher currently offers six books from South Korea, ten from France, and twenty-seven from Australia, among many other countries. Kwon’s book certainly meets its mission.
ProperNoun.net (January 16, 2007):

I was never a cat person. My family never had pets when I was growing up, and I never considered getting one as an adult. My husband wanted a cat, and it was one of the first big compromises of our marriage. Now I’m happy to say that my cat and I are officially friends. She’s kind of a standoffish cat, but she often settles in near me when I’m reading, which was why I was eager to see this title. For once, I could actually relate to a pet book.

My Cat Copies Me is a simple look at friendship and the child-pet bond. The minimal text tells of a very independent cat and the little girl who plays with her. The illustrations match the warm tone of the story as they depict the two friends doing everything together with the little girl taking the lead. But then the little girl tries copying her cat, and the two of them look out the window, climb on furniture, and stretch from the cat’s perspective. What a great, subtle way of encouraging kids to look at the world from another perspective! She learns to not be afraid of new situations and gains self confidence.
Take it as it stands, as a cute story about a girl and her cat or use it to talk about friendship with kids. It takes kids a while to understand the reciprocal nature of friendship, and this book could help them on their way.
Kirkus Reviews (February 1, 2007):

An ebulliently illustrated South Korean import explores how a child and a beloved pet interact and enjoy activities together. Beautifully colored and textured in traditional Korean style and bursting with vitality, expressiveness and movement, this sweet but thin story captures the fun, solace and encouragement one lonely girl derives from her adorable, spunky feline best friend. But who’s copying whom? In the end, the girl draws courage from the cat’s insouciance and feels enough confidence to explore the world outside herself and initiate friendships with neighborhood kids. Too bad the ending falls flat and the girl’s turnabout isn’t made altogether clear. Still, the art is a solid draw, and cat lovers especially will appreciate how well the loving bond between child and pet is portrayed.

Publishers Weekly (February 19, 2007):

Kwon’s brilliant colors, simple forms and meticulously drawn floral patterns render even common objects pleasing and gemlike in this tale of friendship. The artwork transforms piles of laundry, newspapers and sneakers into small treasures. “My cat copies me,” says the girl narrator. “We help with the laundry, and chase after flies. Smelling the flowers, or watching bugs, she always copies me.” Kwon infuses the figures of the girl and the cat with a kind of magic – they play in ordinary surroundings, but strike poses that recall those of traditional tales, leaping and flying. Readers learn that the girl is timid by observing details in the scenes: although children play happily outside their window, she and her cat only sit and watch, and she is afraid of the dark. But her cat’s fearlessness inspires her. “From now on,” the girl vows, as Kwon paints her with green eyes that imitate her pet’s, “I will copy my cat!...I won’t be scared of anything!” Girl and cat crouch, poised for action. They walk outside on the street, with their hair wild and their postures taut, prepared for whatever may await them. “We’ll make new friends, together!” she vows, and on the final page, she and her cat lead the children on a wild chase. Youngsters will be fascinated by the way child and pet influence each other, and impressed with Kwon’s quiet powers of observation.

MY FATHER’S SHOP

1-929132-99-9

BIG A little a (January 23, 2006):

My Father’s Shop is an entertaining, informative, and beautifully illustrated picture book.

Written and illustrated by Satomi Ichikawa, My Father's Shop tells the tale of Mustafa and the day he understood his father's advice ("you must learn some foreign languages") was not "boring."

Mustafa's father runs a carpet shop in Morocco. One day, Mustafa finds a beautiful carpet with a hole in it. He convinces his father to give it to him in exchange for a promise to learn languages. As soon as he receives the carpet, however, Mustafa runs out into the street to show off in the market.

An odd thing happens, though. A rooster begins to follow Mustafa and people stop to talk to the boy and his new friend. (In a nice touch, the rooster's coloring complements the rug.) Mustafa learns how roosters crow in French, Spanish, English, Japanese and can boast to his dad that he "can speak rooster in five languages."

Booklist (February 15, 2006):

A small Morrocan boy named Mustafa falls in love with a rug in his father’s shop and gets to keep it because it has a hole. Delirious with possession, he runs through the marketplace with his brightly colored acquisition over his head and attracts the attention of a wandering rooster, who thinks it’s found a compatriot. “Kho Kho Hou Houuu,” cries the rooster. The many tourists in the market exclaim over the rooster and the boy, each citing how roosters sound in their own countries: “qui-qui-ri-qui” in Spain; “cock-a-doodle-doo” in England; “koké-ko-kôôô” in Japan. Mustafa runs back to his father’s shop to report proudly that he has learned to speak “rooster” in five languages––and brings the tourist trade along with him. Besides a gentle cultural lesson in how even animals sound different in different countries, Ichikawa’s glowing pictures, with their radiant colors and slightly exaggerated forms, present an engaging image of a Moroccan marketplace and of a boy who can find a dozen ways of playing with a rug with a small hole.

Kirkus Reviews (March 15, 2006):

Mustafa’s dad tries to teach him foreign language phrases that will help Mustafa learn to sell the beautiful pattered rugs piled everywhere in his father’s shop in a Moroccan marketplace. Mustafa is bored and finally steals out to spend the day cloaked in a pretty little carpet with a hole in it. He meets up with a rooster who shares the colors in the carpet, and they attract a whole crowd of tourists. Soon everyone is telling each other how roosters make their sounds in each country: “Kho-kho hou-hoûûû” in Morocco, “Co-co-ri-co” in France, “Qui-qui-ri-qui” in Spain, “Cock-a-doodle-doo” in England and “Koké–ko-kôô” in Japan. Mustafa is proud of his ability to learn foreign languages and to bring new customers to his father’s shop. The vibrant watercolors are full of action and fun as the artist captures the many expressions on the faces of vendors and tourists. A joyous story that brings people from different cultures together.

Kids Lit (Greenlake Library) (May 13, 2006):

Young Mustafa helps his father in his Moroccan rug shop.  His father wishes that he would pay attention and learn to speak in different languages to their customers, but Mustafa thinks it is boring.  When he sneaks out of lessons with a torn rug over his head, he discovers that learning languages can be a lot of fun.  I really enjoyed this book.  The illustrations are vibrant, from the colorful rugs to the many different people Mustafa encounters in the market.  The text is just long enough to work in a storytime for preschoolers who will also have fun learning how to crow like a rooster in different languages just like Mustafa.  It is a great way to share multicultural awareness with children, letting them see just like Mustafa did that all these cultures are what make up the rug of life.

A Fuse #8 Production (May 30, 2006):

I first saw this Kane/Miller publication on Anne Boles Levy's site Book Buds. It looked interesting enough, but I figured she'd covered all the essential information about the title. Then Kane/Miller sent me the book personally, and I took a closer gander at it. All in all, this is a rather nice picture book, and one that should really get more attention. As shown here...

No matter what your culture, creed, or standard of living, there is one creature in this world that draws universal ire and attention. The tourist. Many of us find ourselves becoming that dreaded beast at least once in our lifetimes, but there aren’t that many picture books that go so far as to comment on them. Enter in, “My Father’s Shop”, by Satomi Ichikawa. Written by a Japanese born Parisian resident about a Moroccan bazaar, this is one of those international picture books with particularly good credentials. It’s even nicer that the story is an interesting one as well.
Mustafa spends the day working in his father’s carpet shop. Because of the nature of his job (a Moroccan marketplace) Mustafa’s dad must know a variety of different languages with which to communicate with tourists. One day, the boy finds a rug with a big hole in the center. When Mustafa pleads to keep it for his very own, his father agrees but on the condition that his son learn some foreign phrases. This lasts for a little while, but the boy quickly becomes bored and shoots off into the nearby marketplace. There he finds himself followed by a rooster. Suddenly all the tourists and locals are telling the boy what their culture teaches that the rooster says. In England it’s “Cock-a-doodle-doo”, while in Spain it’s, “Qui-qui-ri-qui”. Mustafa runs home to tell his father all about the many languages he’s learned and inadvertently leads the tourists to his father’s stall where they do some mighty fine business.

On the bookflap we learn that author/illustrator Satomi Ichikawa, “never attended art school”. Remarkable? That doesn’t even begin to cover it. In terms of basic drawing skills the book's sheer variety of rugs, including countless different patterns, colors, and weaves, is enough to take your breath away. Even if you’ve never felt inclined towards even buying a rug, you might not mind giving Mustafa’s dad some business. She’s also particularly good at the visual gag. When Mustafa walks out into the wider world with his new rug draped over his head, part of the reason the rooster starts following him probably has to do with the fact that the bird is the exact same bright yellow and green colors as the rug. But while Ichikawa is good at your average floor covering, she’s just as adept at people. The characters in “My Father’s Shop” practically leap off of the pages. Kids reading this book will be able to locate each additional character from page to page. The closest picture book I’ve seen that even comes close to rivaling this kind of sheer character driven market/crowd scenes would have to be Trina Schart Hyman’s illustrations for, “The Fortune Tellers”. Actually, the two books would probably pair together rather well too.

The writing, for the most part, is not bad. Oddly, I was unable to locate the name of the translator. This book, you see, was originally published in France. Whoever did the translating, therefore, did a passable if not extraordinary job of it. The text avoids the herky-jerkiness some children’s book translations fall prey to. At the same time, though, it wouldn’t really make that good a readaloud. I think that because the story is as strong as it is and the plot so interesting, this title would do particularly well one-one-one with a child. Not so much with the bigger groups.

One of the criticisms I’ve seen lobbed at this book in the past was the idea that this is a book that relies heavily on stereotypes. You know. What your average Japanese, British, French, Spanish tourists act and look like. For example, in this story the Japanese are shown to be all about getting just the right camera angle as they snap pictures of Mustafa and his rooster. The English, on the other hand, all wear neckerchiefs and the father looks positively Australian in his khaki gear. None of this really disturbed me, though. After all, tourists are stereotypical critters. They hop from country to country staying just long enough to shoot some pictures, buy some goods and services, and then leave. If you were a rug seller in Morocco you’d probably see only one side of them as well. The nice thing about this book is that everybody is able to communicate with one another by coming up with a different onomatopoeia-ish word for the same birdcall. And, in doing so, they are able to reach a kind of common ground in this book. So well done there.

Truth be told, in my limited knowledge of children’s literature overseas, the only other kids book I could think of that contained a carpet salesman was Diana Wynne Jones’s, “Castle In the Sky”. However, that title is far too mature to couple with this slight and jovial picture book. About once every two weeks I (a children’s librarian) am approached by parents or teachers looking for what they call, “multicultural picture books”. Until now I’ve gone with things like, “Throw Your Tooth On the Roof”, and books of that nature. Now I can proudly hold up, “My Father’s Shop”, as one of the lovelier new books of the year and a wonderful glimpse into the day-to-day life of your average Moroccan carpet salesman.

Through the Looking Glass (June 1, 2006):

Mustafa’s father owns a carpet shop and everyday he works hard talking to tourists and trying to convince them to buy his beautiful and inexpensive carpets. It is important that Mustafa’s father should be able to speak to the tourists in their own language as much as possible so he knows a little English, French, Spanish, and Japanese. One day Mustafa discovers that one of his father’s carpets has a hole in it. Mustafa’s father agrees to give Mustafa the carpet so long as Mustafa makes the effort to learn some foreign words and phrases so that he can help his father in the shop. Mustafa agrees to this but he soon tires of learning words and as soon as he can he runs out into the street to show his friends his carpet.

It is only when he encounters some tourists, and a very vocal rooster, that Mustafa realizes how interesting and important it is to learn some foreign languages. After all, how else would he know how to say the sound of a cock’s crow in four languages!
Children will be fascinated to see how different Mustafa’s Moroccan life is to their own and they will also find themselves wondering what it would be like to live in a place where one would get to meet people from all over the world on a daily basis. Children might even be tempted to learn a few foreign words for themselves. After all, one never knows when you might need to say hello to someone from Japan, Germany, or France.
Satomi Ichikawa has created beautifully vibrant paintings for this very special picture book; a book which embraces different cultures and peoples and which encourages children to see that the world is not such a big place after all.
Children’s Corner (June 7, 2006):

A young Moroccan boy named Mustafa loves to help out in his father's shop, where beautiful rugs are sold. Sometimes, however, Mustafa likes to take a break and check out the nearby marketplace. One day, Mustafa's stroll through the market turns into an international language class, as author-illustrator Satomi Ichikawa shows in "My Father's Shop" (Kane/Miller, $15.95). Ichikawa's comical story is enlivened by the colorful illustrations of a Moroccan marketplace where Mustafa is chased by a rooster. Young readers will laugh as they learn, along with Mustafa, the ways that a rooster crows in various languages.

USA Weekend.com (July 30, 2006):

In a colorful Moroccan marketplace, a merchant's son promises to learn foreign phrases to help sell rugs in exchange for his own rug. Bored, Mustafa runs out to show off his rug and, with the help of a curious rooster and tourists, learns how to say "cock-a-doodle-doo" in five languages.

KidsBookshelf.com:

Mustafa enjoys being in his father's shop in Morocco where he sells beautiful and colorful carpets. One day Mustafa found a hole in one of the carpets. His father couldn't sell the carpet so he agreed to give it to Mustafa if he promised to learn some foreign languages. But Mustafa was more interested in running through the market and showing his carpet to his friends. During his walk he made one friend that followed him everywhere, and soon all of the visitors in the market were crowing like a rooster in their own language. Thanks to the rooster Mustafa learned many new languages, and brought tourist's to his father's shop!

Bookbird (January 2007):

Young Mustafa enjoys helping his father in their Moroccan rug shop. As he parades through the street, draped in a colorful carpet spoiled for sale by a hole, a rooster follows him. Tourists in the marketplace, fascinated as they watch the two, begin to join the strange procession. Through good-humored conversation with the visitors, Mustafa learns how roosters sound when they crow in France, Spain, England and Japan, quite different than in Morocco. Then he leads the tourists, potential customers, to his father’s shop; two achievements of this young problem solver that delight his father and the reader.

Ichikawa, a Japanese artist who lives in Paris, creates a feast for the eye, through the warm colors of the beautiful carpets and the bright clothing of the tourists and natives. Scenes of the shop and of Mustafa’s parade through the marketplace followed by the rooster and eager tourists are alive with action and movement.

NEW CLOTHES FOR NEW YEAR’S DAY

978-1-933605-29-6

YA Books Central.com (December 2006):

In this glorious picture book imported from South Korea, a little girl dons traditional clothes for the first day of the new year.

The little girl embraces the possibilities of beginnings as the old year departs. In exquisite illustrations, we watch as she puts on the clothing her mother made for New Year's Day, including:

"A crimson silk shirt. A rainbow-striped jacket. Delicate socks embroidered with flowers."

The clothes are exotic and beautiful, and it's a delight to watch just how each piece is worn. The impressive book is enhanced with explanations at the end of the story where readers can learn about the Korean New Year and the significance of the new clothing.

A wonderful book for any girl and her mother.
Jellymom.com (December 4, 2006):

I loved this book! From the exquisite illustrations to the captivating story of a young Korean girl as she prepares for the celebration of the Lunar New Year, this book is excellent all the way around. It reminds me a lot of The Snowy Day and other books by Ezra Jack Keats because Hyun-Joo Bae does such a fine job of writing from and illustrating a young child's point of view. Every page is colorfully detailed, sharing traditional Korean dress for a young girl on such a special day. It's so easy to forget yourself and get lost in the story. I heartily recommend it and I will be looking for more books by this author to add to my collection of favorite children's stories.

Kid’s Bookshelf (December 2006):

A new year can be the start of many new things. The little girl is very excited about the first day of the Lunar New Year, especially her new clothes. As she carefully dresses she is delighted with each article of clothing. From her crimson silk skirt and rainbow striped jacket to her embroidered socks and red and gold hair ribbon. Everything she has on is new from head to toe, and as they head out to wish everyone good luck in the new year, the sky delivers new snow! The delicate illustrations bring to life how the new year is celebrated in another culture.

Washington Post (December 10, 2006):

Like the narrator of 365 Penguins, the charming Korean heroine of Hyun-Joo Bae's new book also has an adventure that begins on the first day of the year. New Clothes For New Year's Day (Kane/Miller, $15.95; ages 4-8) has a much quieter tone, although it is plenty joyful. The nameless young girl looks forward to celebrating the "first day for the beginning of everything" in a new outfit that her mother made especially for the occasion.

Bae's delightful illustrations show the girl carefully donning each layer of clothing in an almost ritualistic fashion: "A crimson silk skirt. A rainbow-striped jacket. Delicate socks embroidered with flowers. A hair ribbon of red and gold." Bae goes on to explain that every aspect of the girl's outfit has significance: The colors in her rainbow-striped jacket "represent things such as water, fire, metal, wood and earth. The striped pattern represents the wish that the wearer be in harmony just like the harmonious colors."
While the reverence with which the girl greets the holiday is specifically Korean, her gladness and anticipation -- and Bae's skillful rendering -- are sure to have universal appeal.
The Arizona Republic (December 24, 2006):

Looking ahead, Hyun-Joo Bae gets us in the mood for the new year with her gorgeously illustrated New Clothes for New Year's Day (Kane/Miller Book Publishers, 2007, $15.95). The simple text follows a Korean girl who puts on piece by piece the traditional clothes she will wear to celebrate Solnal, the Lunar New Year (falling on Feb. 18): a crimson silk skirt, a rainbow-striped jacket, embroidered socks and shoes, a fur vest and a gold hair ribbon. Parents won't mind requests to read this over and over. The words are sweet but not cloying, and the delicate, beautifully crafted images are worth looking at again and again.

Bookviews.com (January 2007):

It’s the New Year for us on January 1^st, but for the Chinese the Lunar New Year will begin on February 18^th. In Korea, too, the holiday will be celebrated with rice cake soup, ceremonial bows to elders, and children will put on “hanbok”, traditional Korean clothes with bright colors. Author-illustrator Hyun-Joo Bae is a graduate Ewha Womans University in Seoul, South Korea, and her book, New Clothes for New Year’s Day, ideal for readers aged 4 to 8, shows a little girl putting on her new clothes in anticipation of greeting family and friends ($15.95, Kane/Miller). The illustrations are marvelous and the book is a good way to teach young readers about this unique culture. In a world that is growing smaller every day, a book like this brings us closer together.

Booklist (February 1, 2007):

Thoreau may have distrusted enterprises requiring new clothes, but many young children find them thrilling, and they’ll connect with the Korean little girl in this imported picture book who dresses up to welcome the new year. Simple words and inventively composed pictures depict each step in donning the elaborate, traditional costume, from the wrapped and tied “rainbow-striped jacket” to the silk pouch that brings good luck. Bae’s delicate illustrations move smoothly between depictions of mishaps as the child wrestles with troublesome accessories and grand, wordless portraits, often incorporating traditional furnishings and ornamentation that demonstrate pride in cultural heritage. Despite an awkwardly translated endnote that lacks pronunciations for Korean vocabulary, this makes an inviting addition to lunar New Year offerings, which frequently focus on Chinese celebrations.

Reader’s Edge (Jan / Feb 2007):

In New Clothes for New Year’s Day ($15.95, Kane/Miller, 978-1-933605-29-6), Korean author Hyun-Joo Bae provides a delightful introduction to the celebration of the Lunar New Year on February 18, also known as Chinese New Year. The little Korean girl in the story celebrates the start of the New Year by putting on her new clothes: crimson skirt, rainbow jacket, and embroidered shoes. And she does it all by herself! Children will relate to the little girl’s sense of accomplishment as well as her excitement about the holiday celebration.

Suite 101 (December 24, 2006):

New Clothes for New Year’s Day by Hyun-Joo Bae, is a beautiful book about the South Korean custom of wearing new clothes on New Year’s Day.
A little girl wakes in the early morning. She stares out the window and sees the first day of the New Year.
To get ready for the day’s well wishes, the little girl wraps her crimson silk skirt (Chima) around her waist and ties it on with a sash. Then she puts on her embroidered cotton socks (Beoseon) and her rainbow-striped jacket (Saekdong Jeogori). A headband (Baessi Dangii) goes over her neatly braided hair and a warm, furry vest goes over her jacket. Leather flower-embroidered shoes (Kkotsin) cover her feet.
The little girl then hangs a charm (Norigae) and a lucky bag (Jumeoni) from her jacket. She puts on a black satin winter hat (Jobawi) to keep her warm as she goes visiting.
She is all new, from head to toe, and ready to celebrate being one-year older.
New Clothes for New Year’s Day is a wonderful book that introduces children to the culture of South Korea. The brightly colored illustrations seem to glow off the pages and are simply stunning, showing children step-by-step how a little girl from South Korea prepares for the New Year.
Houston Chronicle (January 15, 1007):

U.S. kids have already celebrated the New Year and gone back to school, but many people around the world are preparing for the Lunar New Year, Feb. 18.

This handsome book follows a Korean girl who is excited by what the New Year brings, especially the new clothes made by her mother.
Aren't they beautiful?

A crimson silk skirt.

A rainbow-striped jacket.

Delicate socks embroidered with flowers.

A hair ribbon of red and gold.
All by herself, the little girl carefully wraps the skirt and ties the sash. She slips into the jacket and dons her hair ribbon. She opens the box containing flowered shoes, a gift from Father. There's also a furry vest and a winter hat. She hangs a charm and a lucky bag on the jacket's string. Now she's ready to go visiting friends and family to exchange New Year's greetings.
Bae's sweet and vivid illustrations provide a glimpse into Korean culture. The significance of the clothes and traditions are outlined in the back of the book.
Albany Times (February 1, 2007):

New Clothes for New Year's Day by Hyun-Joo Bae is a sumptuous children's book that explores Korean traditions. In the book, a little girl receives her new clothes for the Lunar New Year. The clothing, made by her mother, is symbolic, representing harmony and good luck.
Paper Tigers (January 2007):

“Today is New Year's Day.", so starts author/illustrator Hyun-Joo Bae's eye-catching book. “But the very best new things of all the new things are..." and the very young Korean girl in the book goes on to tell us about her Sol-bim, the new clothes her mother made for her, specially for New Year's day: a crimson skirt, embroidered socks, a rainbow-striped jacket, a head band, flowered shoes, a furry vest, a satin winter hat, and a good luck charm to hang from the jacket string for good luck.

Koreans, Bae tells us in the afterword, do not get a year older on their birthdays, but on New Year's Day instead — when they celebrate the start of the Lunar New Year — after they've eaten a special morning rice cake soup and given their ancestors their first ceremonial bow (Se-bae) of the year.
An auspicious way to start the Lunar New Year is to wear new clothes, made with wishes for the wearer to forget unhappy events of the previous year and to have a happy new one. Not everyone's new year's day clothes are as fancy as the little girl's in the book, but we learn that, traditionally, each element of the Sol-bim holds a special meaning. In her case: the striped pattern represents the wish that the she be in harmony, like the colors; the embroidery on the socks is for good luck, and so on.
Bae's delightful illustrations show the girl carefully putting on each layer of the garment, following a ritual well-known to her culture, and the last page, which includes all the Korean names of the different layers, shows the little girl beautifully dressed, from head to toe: her year-old self ready to bow to her ancestors and to go wish everyone good luck in the New Year.
Children will delight in holding this one in their hands, and learning about the garments' names, layers, and meaning.
Through the Looking Glass (February 1, 2007):

A little Korean girl wakes up on New Year’s Day and she is very excited because today she gets to wear the new skirt and jacket that her mother made her just for this special day. First she puts on the bright red skirt with its wide white sash. Then she puts on her embroidered socks. Next she gently eases into her rainbow-striped jacket. Finally she completes the ensemble with a colorful headband, a red and gold hair ribbon, flowered shoes, a “warm furry vest with gold decorations, “and a winter hat.

When she is all dressed in her new finery the little girl looks truly lovely and soon she is ready to go outside in the “new snow” to wish her friends and relations a wonderful New Year.
This stunningly illustrated picture book is a joy to read and to look at. It perfectly captures the excitement the little girl feels about her new clothes which she has been waiting for so long to wear. The narrative and artwork is also infused with humor, showing the little girl struggling to put on her clothes just right. We all know how hard it can be to get socks on straight and how difficult hair ribbons can be.
At the back of the book the author provides her readers with further information about the Lunar New Year’s Day, about the clothes that are worn on this day, and about the significance of these clothes. She also includes an annotated picture of the little girl in her New Year’s splendor.
Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast (February 3, 2007):

New Year’s Day in Korea celebrates the start of the Lunar New Year by which Koreans count their age (instead of via their birthdays), thus making it one of the most important holidays. Hyun-Joo Bae brings us a young girl in Korea, rejoicing in New Year’s Day: “It’s a new year, it’s a new day, and it’s a new morning. It’s the first day for the beginning of everything.” She’s looking out her window, hoping for snow to make her festive day even better. Then commences the young girl’s description of her sartorial bliss (”the very best new things of all the new things”) — her new skirt and jacket (crimson silk and rainbow-striped), her delicate socks, her hair ribbon, her flowered shoes from Father, her warm, furry vest, and a special winter hat. The eager girl shows us how to put on each beautiful, traditional item of clothing, all special for this special day. Bae’s illustrations are elegant, detailed, meticulous, depicting the clothing and the traditional furniture surrounding the girl. She makes good use of her white space, giving the book a crisp, clean look. But there are many full-page illustrations that bleed all the way to the edge of the papers that depict the girl either trying on or showing off her items of clothing and that include exquisite patterned backgrounds. This is a beautiful book and one that gives young readers a peek into Korean culture while also transcending any one particular place (the girl’s excitement, without doubt, depicting a universal joy). In an afterword, Bae explains the New Year’s tradition in Korea as well as the significance of the dressing up and the devotion that goes into creating the items of clothing. And the little girl’s snow arrives, too, making it “{t}he perfect day to make New Year’s calls and to wish everyone good luck in the New Year” . . . pair with Margaret Chodos-Irvine’s Ella Sarah Gets Dressed (2003), and have a ball comparing and contrasting.

BIG A little a (February 6, 2007):

New Clothes for New Year's Day, by Hyun-Joo Bae, is told from the perspective of a small Korean girl. It begins:


Today is New Year's Day.

It's a new year,

it's a new day, and

it's a new morning.

It's the first day for the beginning of everything.


The new sun hasn't shown up, and there are new clouds in the sky. (I hope we

have new snow too.)


But the very best new things of all the new things are...

Then our narrator begins to dress in her beautiful new clothes for the occasion*: "A crimson silk skirt. A rainbow-striped jacket. Delicate socks embroidered with flowers. A hair ribbon of read and gold." And, there's more: "flowered shoes, a gift from Father," a "warm, furry vest with the gold decorations," and a "special winter hat."

The young girl dresses with care, tying each bow with perfectly, straightening her socks, and checking her progress in the mirror. It's a simple, yet beautiful and optimistic tale, completed by Hyun-Joo Bae's stunning illustrations. And the illustrations are truly something special--colorful, simply composed, and embellished with flowers, gorgeous rooms, and, finally, snow.

Hyun-Joo Bae has included two pages of informational text at the end of New Clothes for New Year's Day explaining each item of clothing, its significance, and the role of New Year's Day in Korean culture. New Clothes for New Year's Day is highly recommended for children ages four to nine and is an excellent choice for a read aloud on New Year's celebrations. It will also be enjoyed by that dress-up obsessed child in your life.

Travel for Kids (February 2007):

A new year, a new day! Celebrate Lunar New Year with Korean traditions and new, beautiful clothes. In each exquisite illustration, a little girl dresses herself in a red silk skirt, rainbow jacket, embroidered socks and shoes, satin winter hat, and a lucky bag.

Early Childhood News (February 2007):

Solnal is the first day of the new lunar year in Korea. The New Year is heralded by children donning traditional Korean clothes (hanbok), as well as the eating of rice cake soup, cheerful greetings and ceremonial bows to elders. Introduce another culture – or share with your Korean-American children - this colorful, bright, cheerful explanation of the Korean New Year.

Chicago-Tribune (February 4, 2007):

In traditional Korean culture, the wearing of new clothes is the way to celebrate the lunar New Year (about mid-February). As we watch an excited little girl dress and explain her costume, however, we also sense what is shared across cultures. This little girl is very proud that she knows how to dress herself, even if she lets us know that, at times, it's difficult, as when getting the designs on the socks in the right place. The clothes themselves, pictured against Korean textile patterns, are vivid, and that brightness projects a sense of beginning.

Book Buds Kidlit Reviews (February 7, 2007):

I remember at an SCBWI conference, moderators read from a picture book manuscript about a Japanese girl putting on her kimono. None of the panelists--drawn from the publishing industry, wouldn't you know it--went for it. I kinda liked it. Why did it have to have conflict, drama, a character arc? It was a book about kimonos, fer cryin' out loud.

So I was thrilled that Kane/Miller sent me this Korean version of the same idea: a young girl putting on her new clothes so she can join her family in marking the start of the lunar calendar. That's all she does is get dressed, but I can vouch as the Mommy of an 18-month-old clothes horse that little girls eat this stuff up.
She starts out in her white under-robe, over which she layers the fancy, homemade clothes that will help her start the year fresh. She dons a silk skirt in blazing red, embroidered with the Chinese character for "luck," a rainbow-striped jacket that fastens at her chest, colorful hair ribbons, a good-luck sachet to pin to her jacket, and much else. Even the details on her socks and the embroidery on her shoes are noted with loving detail.
Along the way, we learn much about Korean customs.
The illustrations look like pen and ink, with vivid crimsons and jade greens against a pale yellow background embellished with mazes or stylized flowers. Each page has that signature Eastern blend of simplicity of composition and the harmony of all its elements.
Try to pry this from your daughter's hands, I dare you.
The Field Guide to Parenting (February 2007):

A young girl wakes up in excitement of the Lunar New Year in Korea (on Feb 18 in 2007) much as children who celebrate Christmas and birthdays. She explains quite clearly what she is putting on as she gets dressed and how special her new clothes are. The magnificent  illustrations capture the angelic girl and hold her center stage without overpowering the page and maintaining a graceful quality. More about the importance on the New Year in Korea is included at the end. A gem of a book!

Women Day by Day (February 12, 2007):

If you have a little girl from toddler to first or second grade in your life, she’ll adore experiencing New Clothes for New Year’s Day with you. It’s everything we look for in a children’s book. Hyun-Joo Bae is Korean – and she swoops you up and whisks you off in your imagination to her country. She never loses sight of the fact that, at some level, little girls are the same the world over.

Hyun-Joo Bae’s main character, five or six year’s old, tells us all about her brand new New Year’s celebration clothes as she gets dressed to party with her family and friends.
Her face is as cute and warm as can be – you’ll love how human she seems, though she’s just made of pigment and rag paper.
The illustrations are charming – I turned through the book three or four times before I even read the text. The drawings remind me of classic paper dolls – I wanted them to be paper dolls so I could assemble the pretty outfit. And the text doesn’t disappoint. It’s translated to English, of course, but never makes you feel out of step.
Like most Kane-Miller books, the quality of binding, paper and print is high. The story teaches, step-by-step, how Korean girls dress for their most important holiday, and why each part of their outfit is selected. There’s a true sense of place, an appreciation for differences and a nod to sameness. I’d say this is a terrific book for teachers – little boys would probably find it appealing, too.
This is one to own – it’s worth the price and you will read it to and with the little girl in your life, over and over again, for a long time to come.
Suite 101 (February 18, 2007):

Any little grand daughter, from toddler to primary grader will adore New Clothes for New Year’s Day. It’s everything we look for in a children’s book. Hyun-Joo Bae is Korean – and she sweeps you up, whisking you off to her country. She never forgets that, in some ways, little girls are the same everywhere.

Hyun-Joo Bae’s main character, just about your granddaughter’s age, tells about her New Year’s celebration clothes as she dresses to party with family and friends. She’s cute as a button – you’ll love her expressions and postures.

Charming drawings made me browse through the book three or four times before I even read the text. The artwork reminds me of classic paper dolls – I wanted them to be paper dolls so I could play. And the text doesn’t disappoint. It’s translated to English, of course, but never makes you feel out of step.

Like most Kane-Miller books, the quality of binding, paper and print is high. The story teaches, step-by-step, an important Korean holiday tradition, and its meaning. There’s a true sense of place and an appreciation for differences. Gather your girls, invite the boys, too, and have a great read.

This is one to own – to be enjoyed many times over the years.

Children’s Bookwatch (February 2007):

Written and illustrated by Hyun-Joo Bae, New Clothes for New Year’s Day is a picturebook cherishing traditional Korean culture. Told through the eyes of a young Korean girl who looks forward to her wearing her special New Year’s Day clothes, New Clothes for New Year’s Day follows her as she puts on the colorful articles to give luck and celebrate the coming of the new year. A lovely and enjoyable picturebook, and also useful for demonstrating to a child how to put on a Korean-style New Year’s Day outfit.

Skipping Stones Bookshelf (Mar/Apr 2007):

The beautiful illustrations of a young Korean girl dressing for the lunar New Year’s festivities do most of the storytelling in this colorful book. Readers learn that many aspects of the dress carry special symbolic significance and express a resolve to better oneself in the upcoming year. A great book!

THE NIGHTS OF THE WORLD