Bookbird: A Journal of International Children's Literature

Hong Kong, a remarkable blend of Western and Oriental traditions, has long been known as Asia's capital of connection. With its notable history of British colonization, which lasted over a century, to its present status as Special Administrative Region of China since its handover in 1997, a new, modern Hong Kong emerges, uniting the cultures and traditions of both East and West—a fascinating melting pot of the world. In the Hong Kong children's book series, Anna Tso, born-and-bred local Hong Konger, scholar in language arts, and associate professor of children's literature, teams up in an informational narrative with the vivid drawings of Joanne Lo, a Canadian-born illustrator raised in both Toronto and Hong Kong. The book series provides local and international audiences alike with an amazing opportunity to explore Hong Kong, with its own unique history, cultural fusion, and way of life. The useful recommendations and tips from Tso and Lo on navigating life in Hong Kong are impartially presented from a fresh perspective.

As a collection of six English stories set in the local Hong Kong context, which includes Culinary Charades, The Summer of 1997, Unforgettable Neighbours, Taming Babel, Herstory, and A Tale of Two Haunted Universities, the book series is rich in detail, touching on topics that will both delight and interest curious young readers aged from eight to twelve. Covering a wide range of themes, this wonderful series of children's stories is a portrait of daily life and a reflection of the times, both past and present. These theme include Hong Kong's culinary roots; its sovereignty history, culture, and identity; the local vernacular Cantonese language; the complexities of juggling life, work, and family for professional Hong Kong women; and Hong Kong's architecture, nature, and animals. Cleverly conceived, and at times also moving, the stories include plenty of vocabulary words, phrases, and sentences that are easy for ESL/EFL[1] readers to learn and understand. Following are some book highlights.

World-renowned as an Asian food paradise, Hong Kong has something to offer for everyone. In Culinary Charades, readers embark on a food journey through the cultural dining experience of drinking Chinese tea and eating dim sum. From the most typical, popular street food, such as chou do fu (sticky tofu) and curry fish balls, to three-stuffed treasures, a [End Page 89] snack that allows you to choose your own adventure, the story reveals the uniqueness of this specialty among Canton's diverse culinary roots. What are some of the other attractive and sensational dim sum or street snacks that entice your tastebuds? Read and name more in this food tour story.

There is great fun to be had learning Cantonese with Taming Babel. Due to its complicated tonal system, learning Cantonese is often thought to be difficult. This handy collection offers some unique ways of acquiring Cantonese words and expressions that would be especially useful for those visiting Hong Kong. In this story, the effectiveness of the narration lies in its humor, simultaneously engaging and entertaining, raising learners' interests as they explore this beautiful language in relation to their daily lives. Detailed, fresh learning examples are used to explain why speaking Cantonese is not as hard as people think, while amazing tips and tricks shared by the foreign characters show readers how to make the language fun to acquire.

Herstory is a semiautobiographical tale about the core values of the Hong Kong people—the Lion Rock Spirit—which emphasize hard work, flexibility, continual improvement, and a pioneering attitude. Drawing from her own experiences growing up in Hong Kong and inspired by the true stories of female family members who succeeded in balancing family and caring responsibilities with their professional careers, in Herstory the author challenges the traditional Chinese notion that men are breadwinners while women are homemakers. In doing so, she sheds light on the realities faced by Hong Kong women—the conflicting expectations between achieving success in the workplace and undertaking caregiving duties within...