Review by Booklist Review
Given new chopsticks, Maggie struggles to use them the way her grandmother, mother, brother, and sister handle theirs. Each has a unique method, but none of them works for Maggie. Neither the Kitchen God nor the altar of her ancient ancestors helps her, but her father advises, Everyone is different. Finally, Maggie demonstrates her own grip, holding her chopsticks like a butterfly. The story follows a familiar preschool pattern but provides an Asian American setting. Realistic illustrations, rendered in watercolor and Adobe Photoshop, reveal a family eating typical Chinese food and observing family traditions. One double-page spread shows the family around a full table of food from an overhead perspective. Red envelopes lie in front of the children's plates, but the narrative does not mention a particular celebration. Mastering chopsticks may be unique to particular cultures, but the desire to perform grown-up tasks is universal, and Maggie's search for her own way will resonate with children.--Perkins, Linda Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-Maggie comes from a family of unique individuals, all with their own opinions and style, each one of them willing to give advice on how the child should hold her new chopsticks. Maggie listens to all of them in turn, weighing her options. Grandmother suggests using chopsticks in a rather forthright way, while Sister suggests a more graceful approach. As Maggie begins to worry that she may never find her own style, her father suggests that she be herself. Because of his encouragement, she is able to find just what works for her. Maggie comes from a traditional Chinese family, and she clearly wants to make them proud. Woo writes in a way that transforms a story about holding utensils into a poetic journey. Not only is Maggie learning the mechanics of chopsticks, but she is also learning to be herself. Language such as "click-clack-clicketing" and, as she circles her chopsticks above her fish tank, "the fish flee/from the wooden fingers/reaching through their sky of blue" makes children want to turn the page and find out what else Maggie will experience. In Malenfant's vibrant illustrations, deep reds and shimmering oranges leap from the pages. All children are fascinated with holding utensils, whether a fork, a spoon, or chopsticks, and are anxious to please adults while staking out their own individuality, making this a great choice for kids of all ethnic backgrounds.-Cass Mabbot, Seattle Public Library, WA (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Learning to use something new is never easy. Young Maggie has a new set of chopsticks, but everyone says she is using them incorrectly. Evocative and appealing digitally enhanced watercolors show how Grandmother, Mother, Brother and Sister eat with their chopsticks (shoveling, popping, plucking and dancing, respectively), but Maggie can't seem to follow any of their examples. The Kitchen God has nothing helpful to say, and Maggie's private practicing doesn't help her either; it's not until Father offers praise and comforting words about individuality that Maggie finds her own style, "like a butterfly emerging / from a long winter's sleep." Though something seems lost here--it is difficult to see whether the setting is China or elsewhere, whether using chopsticks with style is a cultural phenomenon or based on Maggie's own observations, and whether Maggie improves through practice, simply accepts herself or both--the story is well-intentioned, the character plucky and hardworking, and the illustrations warm and striking. Youngsters learning to cope with eating utensils of any sort will appreciate Maggie's efforts and urge her on to success. (Picture book.3-5)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
