A bilingual (English/Chinese) counting book follows little Mia and her Uncle Eddie on a walk through Chinatown. They are headed to the Big Wok restaurant for dim sum. On the way there they pass an array of items connected to their Chinese heritage, all in countable quantities: one giant panda, two stone lions, three ageless turtles, four miniature trees, and so forth. (An author’s note provides two or three sentences about the significance of each of these items in Chinese culture.) Patient Uncle Eddie allows Mia to stop and look carefully at everything that grabs her interest, and appears to enjoy their walk through the neighborhood as much as she does. Once they get to the restaurant, Mia counts the dim sum offerings on their table, from ten soup dumplings down to two egg tarts. Then she asks for one bowl of anchovies to go, which she shares with the small orange and white cat that followed them on their journey to the restaurant. Culturally accurate watercolor and pastel paintings show an affectionate bond between a child and her uncle, who both clearly enjoy each other’s company as they walk along a lively street in their neighborhood. A final page shows the numbers from one to ten in both Chinese and English, along with a pronunciation guide for each one. (Ages 3-6)

This charming bilingual English/Mandarin counting book uses a stroll through Chinatown to introduce readers to the numbers one through ten in Chinese ... and will leave you hungry besides!

As Mia and her uncle Eddie travel the ten blocks from their apartment to the Big Wok restaurant, Mia spies one giant panda ride, two lion statues, three swimming turtles, four bonsai trees, five tai chi practitioners ... There are so many things to see in Chinatown! And when they reach the Big Wok, they find ten yummy dim sum dishes to eat. But what route should they take back home?

This sweet story about a girl, her uncle, and a little cat they meet on the way accomplishes multiple fun and useful aims: It's a fully bilingual counting book that teaches readers the numbers one through ten in both simplified Mandarin and English. It provides a fun tour of a typical Chinatown--a beloved neighborhood in many cities around the world. Children will enjoy spotting the kitten in every illustration as it trails Mia and Uncle Eddie through the streets. And with each item that Mia encounters on her walk, the book introduces some fascinating new aspect of Chinese culture or myth, as explained in the friendly backmatter. Join Mia and Uncle Eddie as they wander Ten Blocks to the Big Wok!