Customer Reviews

Shanté Keys and the New Year's Peas

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book was a hit with my students. The language was easy to understand and the rhyming story was really cute. It is perfect if you teach in a community that values diversity. This story introduces you to characters who celebrate the new year in many different ways.

Would be a cute lesson in diversity with the ability to cook the different foods mentioned in the book for your students.

What a fantastic book! Shante Keys goes looking for black eyed peas for a New Year's dinner-along the way she learns how other cultures celebrate New Year's. It's rare that an adult can learn so much from a children's book but I was enthralled at reading such useful information. The book is witty and cleverly written and the illustrations are spot on-colorful, whimsical and just as warm as the prose itself. This is a book to be shared with a child you love-a true family treasure.

Shante's mother tells her they need some black-eyed peas to celebrate good luck in the new year. In her quest to find some black-eyed peas, Shante discovers the different ways that her neighbors celebrate the New Year. This is such a cute and informative book. The rhyming text rolls easily off the tongue making it a perfect read-a-loud that kids will want to hear over and over. Great for the classroom too! What teacher doesn't need more books on different cultural celebrations? Gail Piernas-Davenport has captured the fun and diversity of a New Year's celebration. And the colorful illustrations by Marion Eldridge are as lively as the text.

My 3 1/2 year old granddaughter loves this book. All of the cool factors notwithstanding, a child's positive reaction is what makes a book worthwhile. My granddaughter will not "stay" with any story she doesn't like---and she frequently asks me to read this to her. She identifies with the little girl and she is intrigued with the idea of a recipe in a book. I told her about cookbooks---she now says whe would like to have a cookbook, which I promised to buy for her later, when she can read! Meanwhile, we like to cook together.
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What a delightful book! Charming and whimsical,
entertaining and informative. My kids love it
and so do I!

This lively multicultural story takes readers on a whirlwind tour of New Year's traditions around the globe. Eldridge's charming illustrations add just the right combination of motion and bright colors with loads of kid-appeal to a text that makes for a terrific read-aloud, both at home and in the classroom. A wonderful contribution from Piernas-Davenport, a new voice in children's books.

This one is a great and engaging introduction to New Year's customs in various cultures. As Shanté visits her neighbors to borrow some extra peas she's introduced to all their traditions, and invites them all back to her house for lucky black-eyed peas. Lively illustrations, enjoyable flow, and a great message. Loved it!

I read this book to all of my classes (whole school of 880 kids in grades K-5), then I taught some relevant music and explained more about the other new year holidays celebrated by the people in the book. My hispanic kids had lots of stories about fireworks and grapes to tell, many children already knew what year animal they were born under (China) and we figured it out for the rest, lots of children had stories of new year's food they always eat (backing up Shante's meal tradition). We had a great time with this book. The page at the end that gives more detail is good. The included recipe looks like a tasty thing to try.

I specifically bought this book because it is multicultural and the author is from Chicago. I read an article on her and admired her inspiration for writing the book. My thoughts aside, my daughters, 4 and 3, love this book. It's rhymes are pleasing to say and hear and makes it a great read-aloud book. The illustrations are well done and very colorful. It easily presents different cultural celebrations for the New Year, in a subtle and fun way. I have since bought additional copies for nieces and nephews. I just think it's a wonderful book!