One Is a Drummer

March 1, 2004
One Is a Drummer: A Book of Numbers by Roseanne Thong, illus. by Grace Lin, is the pair's third concept book celebrating elements of Chinese culture. This rhyming counting book spans one to 10, showing four friends playing mahjong and eight "Chinese Immortals of old," among others. A glossary gives thorough explanations of these and other traditions mentioned.

June 1, 2004
PreS-Gr 1-The Chinese-American girl introduced in Round Is a Mooncake (2000) and Red Is a Dragon (2001, both Chronicle) counts her favorite things. In bouncy verse, she engages in activities with her multicultural friends and family: "Five are the fish balls/on a stick./Five are the fingers/that I lick." Some of the items are Asian in origin (dragon boat, dim sum carts, bamboo) and others, like her Dalmatian puppy, are not. Most of the objects are quite distinct and easy to count, thanks to Lin's characteristically simple, uncluttered, gouache illustrations. A glossary gives two-sentence explanations for the Asian elements, from Eight Immortals to mahjong tiles, adding versatility and ethnic interest to the book without intruding on its simplicity. While the concept is not a new one, the presentation has enough freshness, clarity, and gorgeous traditional Chinese colors to make it enormously engaging.-Liza Graybill, Worcester Public Library, MA

Copyright 2004 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2004
PreS-Gr. 1. Besides offering a little practice in counting from 1 to 10, this colorful picture book introduces aspects of traditional Chinese culture. Each double-page spread includes a large, horizontal painting illustrating a rhyme such as "Four are the friends / who play mahjong / Four are the songbirds / that chirp along." Not all the activities shown are distinctively Asian, and a multicultural crew of children are the participants. The rhymes provide a pleasing framework for the book, and Lin's striking artwork gives it great visual appeal. Bold, black outlines define the forms, while the vibrant colors and decorative patterns bring them to life. On the last page, Thong discusses topics mentioned in the text, such as the Dragon Boat Festival, dim sum, and the Eight Immortals. An appealing counting book, particularly for Chinese American children who want to learn a little about their heritage.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2004
This rhyming book counts to ten, highlighting items or activities related to Chinese culture. "One is a drummer / One is a race / One is a dragon boat / that wins first place!" An endnote explains such terms as "mahjong" and "dim sum". Lin makes good use of colorful patterns in her gouache illustrations, which feature a multiethnic cast of characters.

(Copyright 2004 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)