Customer Reviews

We Gather Together

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

 

 

Am I just being a stick-in-the-mud by being put off by the section in this book on Japan? I know the author writes a lot of books for children, but she herself need not be so juvenile as to confuse Japan and China. The illustrations and descriptions of "Japanese" celebrations were an inconsiderate mishmash of Japanese and Chinese cliches. It threw the whole book into doubt.
Does this really matter? For all I knew, I was reading Americanized cliches of every other culture touched upon in this book. This happens in all sorts of entertainment. I'm sure medical doctors roll their eyes at tv hospital dramas, and software engineers cringe at plots revolving around "technology". But in the case of a childrens book, wouldn't real cultural traditions have been just as good?

A kids' text, no matter how nice and photogenic, has a a linear feel to it.
The first impression I had after several readings of this book was that it
flowed from the storybook like descriptions of the festivals, but did not
halt suddenly for the science explanations. I think to gather kids who like
one but not the other (storybooks or science) this is a good crossover book.

As a reader I liked the nostalgic illustrations. As a person who teaches and
tutors second language learners, I liked the compreshensible text with vocabulary not too difficult and not overly simplified for the ESL,ELL and
EFL 'world'. I especially liked the easy to understand instructions for
experiments and the recipe.

Homeschoolers and tutors should find the in-book lesson plan ideas and
festival follow ups very clear and inviting to use the book as a teaching
tool.

As a long time resident of Japan, I had an instant memory clip of the
fascination I had for moon viewing. The very early royals built moon
viewing rooms in their palaces and even today their are moon viewing
excursions for the sentimal. In that ever festivaling country, the
lantern and moonviewing celebrations are of the most evocative.

For children rasised in the city, this is a good introduction to how food
is harvested and celebrated around the world.

For parents interested in interesting ways to present diversity, it is
deligtful. I would recommend it without hesitation.

again, i love the wendy pfeffer books and have learned things from them myself. the info is kid friendly, and the illustrations are great. i recommend them to anyone interested in learning about the seasons, the origins of celebrations that follow them, and general info on the solstices/equinoxes.

This is a delighful book to be enjoyed by all ages, and for us to remember all cultures share a celebration of thanks!

I have been unable to use this book as the teaching tool I was hoping to for my 3 1/2 year old son because he has a passionate loathing for the pumpkins on the cover. I really don't understand why. The text is engaging enough, if only we could get there...