My Chinatown: One Year in Poems opens in New York City. We meet a young Chinese boy and his family who recently moved from Hong Kong, China. The young boy is sad. He does not believe New Year’s Day in Chinatown could ever be as fun as in Hong Kong.

He is homesick for his grandmother in Hong Kong. She is a thousand miles away from him. The boy misses her special pickled kumquats.

Time pasts, in the spring, he meets a cobbler and a bird shop owner. In the summer, he gets a new playmate. The Moon Festival comes in the fall.

It’s winter again. New Year’s Day is back! There are noodles for breakfast and sweet rice cakes. The little boy is joyous. He is happy in his Chinatown!

My Chinatown: One Year in Poems reassures the child that life goes on and there will be more happy times after a move. Transition is not the end of the world. The little boy realizes things improve with time. Hopefully, he will meet future changes without so many fears and doubts.

A move to a new city is upsetting. The lost of friends, familiar surroundings and traditions can turn a child’s life upside down. Share this book of poems with your child to ease this period of adjustment. Children ages 4-8 will identify with the boy. All children at one time or another face change in their lives.

The paintings are realistic. The kumquats look so juicy. One wants to take a bite of the golden fruit. The paintings compliment Kam Mak’s poems.

"Reading is a discount ticket to everywhere." - Mary Schmich



You don't have to buy the book now, just put My Chinatown: One Year in Poems in your shopping cart for now.

Jacqueline H. Blumenstock's Making New Friends is another book in which a child moves to a new city. T.J. is afraid he will not make any new friends. Brownie, a moving box, becomes an imaginary friend who shows the little boy not to have any qualms. The fantasy picture book is excellent for ages 4-8.



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Note: My Chinatown: One Year in Poems by Kam Mak review book is from the library.