Ten Mice for Tet! [Hardcover]

Pegi Deitz Shea (Author), Cynthia Weill (Author), To Ngoc Trang (Illustrator), Pham Viet Dinh (Contributor)

Book Description

Grade Level: P and up

It's time for Tet! This vibrant, unique counting book introduces children to the rich traditions of the Vietnamese New Year. A playful village of mice lead young readers through the joyful celebration, as exquisitely embroidered illustrations recreate ten scenes of preparation, gift giving, feasting, and firework displays. With simple text followed by an informative afterword, Ten Mice for Tet is a joyful tribute to a special holiday.

Honors for Ten Mice for Tet!:
2004 CCBC (Cooperative Children's Book Center) Choices selection
Kirkus Reviews starred review
2004 Notable Books for a Global Society

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-This accessible counting book is a lovely introduction to the Vietnamese New Year. Each spread features a short sentence ("1 mouse plans a party. 2 mice go to market") that is expanded upon by detailed pictures showing the preparations of thevillage. Remarkable, vividly colored, embroidered artwork enhances the text. The textural quality is still perceptible even though the pieces have been photographed, and readers are able to see the individual stitches in this fine workmanship. A thin black outline highlights the bright, flat figures whose faces have a cartoonlike look. Extensive endnotes following the number sequence take readers back through the book and allow for a more comprehensive explanation of the holiday. In this section, Vietnamese words are followed by the pronunciation in parentheses. This multileveled approach allows this title to be used with children of a wide range of ages. An excellent addition to any collection.
Tali Balas, Ethical Culture Fieldston School, New York City
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

PreS-Gr. 2. In a traditional counting-book format, mice prepare for their Tet celebration, from "one mouse" that plans a party to "ten mice" that watch fireworks. The bright, lively pictures, which convey various activities associated with the Tet celebration, were drawn on paper and then transferred to cloth and embroidered in cotton thread. The bare-bones text is a vehicle for the vibrant art, but it does provide a festive introduction to Tet for young children. Older children will examine the embroidery and discover more information in the notes. Appended notes elaborate on the text, explaining Vietnamese customs and traditions. The notes also provide pronunciation assistance, noting regional variations. An excellent choice for multicultural studies, this handsome counting book deserves a place in most collections. Linda Perkins
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 36 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (November 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811834964
• ISBN-13: 978-0811834964
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 9.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #663,047 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Hi! Thanks for your interest in my work. I LOVE to meet readers at school visits and teacher conferences, and share my writing processes. Please visit www.pegideitzshea.com for details.

Right now, I'm celebrating the release of my "lucky" 13th book, NOAH WEBSTER: WEAVER OF WORDS. I'm also in press (editing) my first YA novel, ABE IN ARMS, about a former boy soldier from Liberia having a hard time adjusting to high school in the US. I've co-written a nonfiction picture book with Iris VanRynbach called THE TAXING CASE OF THE COWS: A TRUE STORY ABOUT SUFFRAGE. We're thrilled that Caldecott winner, Emily Arnold McCully, is illustrating it! It should be out Fall 2010 or Spring 2011.

I'm working on writing 2 projects: SNAKE BOY, SISTER SPY, a YA novel based on the teen exploits of my aunt and uncle in the French Resistance during WWII; also, I'm working with UCONN marine biologists on a series called AQUANAUTS: TEEN HEROES OF THE SEAS.

I teach at UCONN and the Institute of Children's Literature. I love sharing my knowledge, energy, and passion for writing.

Learn more about me at my website, or email me at [e-mail]

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great book of vietnamese traditions, January 25, 2005

By 

nh mom "nhonlinemom" (Portsmouth, NH USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ten Mice for Tet! (Hardcover)

this book is simple but filled with information. one mouse plans a party, two mice go to market, 3 mice paint and polish, 4 mice prepare a feast, 5 mice learn their fortunes, 6 mice open presents...etc. The last two pages of the book give further information on each activity - what it is and why it is an important tradition. I like it because most books do not focus on the vietnamese tradition of Chinese New Year. Our family is of Vietnamese heritage, so this book is best for us.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ten Mice is Great!, November 3, 2003

By 

"jmarbleheads" (Marblehead, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ten Mice for Tet! (Hardcover)

What a unique book! A must for every school library, the illustrations are gorgeous. Very helpful for projects on Asian cultures or Viet Nam.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book to learn about Tet, February 13, 2007

By 

Karyn W "blckwidow8" (Kansas City, MO United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Ten Mice for Tet! (Hardcover)

This is a great book for preschoolers to teach about some of the activities related to the Vietnamese New Year and its celebration. The embroidered illustrations are quite intricate. I highly recommend this simple, yet informative book.