This is a great book about a Chinese family who loves to play Mahjong. The name Mahjong means "sparrow" because the moving of the tiles sounds like sparrows chirping. I thought that was interesting. I have to be honest that my only exposure to Mahjong has been through reading and watching a favorite, The Joy Luck Club. There really weren't a lot of Chinese families in Davenport as I was growing up. My mother was an international adoption social worker, so we sometimes got to see interesting artifacts from trips abroad. I have always been fascinated by other cultures and how people live. I like that a game like Mahjong can be played by people of all ages--also a great way for families to spend time together doing culturally enriching activities. The tiles teach Chinese characters, counting, and building winning combinations.
The book was beautifully illustrated by Ginnie Lo's sister, Beth Lo. She used handmade porcelain plates for each illustration--giving the book an exotic feel to this native Midwesterner. I noticed that the characters usually had slightly larger heads than is typical in American illustrations. The bodies were littler with the emphasis on the face, which was interesting. The sisters were careful to create a simple story that concentrated on the family component being strengthened by this game. Each page was black with white text, so it was very striking. Chinese characters were used in the illustrations by characters with the meanings on the opposite page. Such a different language as Chinese can be hard to read, so I think kids would like to know maybe one character to impress their friends with. The illustrations were humerous (the kids interacting with each other sometimes away from the game, making silly comments). A beautiful way to express the love each family member has for another and a great way to spend time together each week.
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