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hugbandit7's review against another edition
5.0
I love stories that are aimed towards children to teach them about history but end up teaching adults something as well.
This story is set in the 1930s and features Ming, a Chinese girl, set in a town in California. She doesn't fit in and has very few wishes, but what she wants more than anything is to sing in the choir at school and have a Christmas tree. However, Mom says no, and Dad agrees with her. But what Ming doesn't expect is to take a trip with her dad to meet some friends of her grandfather and learn about her heritage. There is even a surprise for Ming at the end of the journey.
The story is educational and inspirational as we follow Ming throughout her day.
Let's talk about the illustrations. The illustrator does an amazing job of portraying Ming's story and the 1930s. I like that the inside front cover reflects the town of Merced City, California, where this story is set. There are even key landmarks of what the town looked like in those days. The back inside cover shows the route that Ming and her father take to visit the family friends in Mariposa Grove. Each picture that graces the pages of the story is full of life and color. There is one page that depicts intricate carvings in the cabin at Mariposa Grove.
This is a wonderful story to educate young minds about other cultures and history. We give this book 5 paws up.
This story is set in the 1930s and features Ming, a Chinese girl, set in a town in California. She doesn't fit in and has very few wishes, but what she wants more than anything is to sing in the choir at school and have a Christmas tree. However, Mom says no, and Dad agrees with her. But what Ming doesn't expect is to take a trip with her dad to meet some friends of her grandfather and learn about her heritage. There is even a surprise for Ming at the end of the journey.
The story is educational and inspirational as we follow Ming throughout her day.
Let's talk about the illustrations. The illustrator does an amazing job of portraying Ming's story and the 1930s. I like that the inside front cover reflects the town of Merced City, California, where this story is set. There are even key landmarks of what the town looked like in those days. The back inside cover shows the route that Ming and her father take to visit the family friends in Mariposa Grove. Each picture that graces the pages of the story is full of life and color. There is one page that depicts intricate carvings in the cabin at Mariposa Grove.
This is a wonderful story to educate young minds about other cultures and history. We give this book 5 paws up.
bookycnidaria's review
3.0
Note: Thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing for the free electronic copy of this book. All opinions are my own. The longer, spoiler-filled version of this review is here.
This was really cute. I don't normally review children's books, but this one piqued my interest, so I thought I'd give it a try.
Ming's Christmas Wishes follows a little girl named Ming as she struggles to find an identity for herself in 1930s California, torn between her Chinese roots and her American life. When her mother vetoes Ming's request for a Christmas tree, Ming's father finds a compromise, in the process teaching Ming a little bit about her family history and heritage.
My favorite part of the book was the illustrations, which are gorgeous full-spread paintings done by Japanese illustrator Masahiro Tateishi. They're so soft and cozy, and they set the stage beautifully. The trouble is that there's not much substance to the story. The writing is okay, if a bit awkward in places, but it doesn't make me feel anything in particular. I get what Gong was trying to do, but the book's stated purpose got muddled in the telling. The story is somewhat unresolved, and the characters are hard to pinpoint because they feel more like sketches than like people I might actually know. And maybe this is why the book feels so deeply impersonal to me: even though it was inspired by family stories, it doesn't feel specific to this one particular family. It feels like it came out of a mold. It feels like a story that could be told by any Chinese American raised in the 1930s. It's just very sweet and very bland, and that, in the end, was what pushed it – at least for me – from four stars to three.
This was really cute. I don't normally review children's books, but this one piqued my interest, so I thought I'd give it a try.
Ming's Christmas Wishes follows a little girl named Ming as she struggles to find an identity for herself in 1930s California, torn between her Chinese roots and her American life. When her mother vetoes Ming's request for a Christmas tree, Ming's father finds a compromise, in the process teaching Ming a little bit about her family history and heritage.
My favorite part of the book was the illustrations, which are gorgeous full-spread paintings done by Japanese illustrator Masahiro Tateishi. They're so soft and cozy, and they set the stage beautifully. The trouble is that there's not much substance to the story. The writing is okay, if a bit awkward in places, but it doesn't make me feel anything in particular. I get what Gong was trying to do, but the book's stated purpose got muddled in the telling. The story is somewhat unresolved, and the characters are hard to pinpoint because they feel more like sketches than like people I might actually know. And maybe this is why the book feels so deeply impersonal to me: even though it was inspired by family stories, it doesn't feel specific to this one particular family. It feels like it came out of a mold. It feels like a story that could be told by any Chinese American raised in the 1930s. It's just very sweet and very bland, and that, in the end, was what pushed it – at least for me – from four stars to three.
fernandie's review against another edition
3.0
Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.
backonthealex's review against another edition
4.0
In 1930s California, Ming Gong, the oldest child of immigrants from China, has three wishes - to sing in the school choir, to have a Christmas tree, and to feel like she belongs somewhere. She's not Chinese enough at home and not American enough at school. But Ming's mother is adamant about not have a tree - it's just not Chinese. To break the tension, Ming's Pop says he will take Ming with him when he visits the Lins the next day. After a long truck ride, the two arrive at the shack where Uncle Lin and his father live, old friends of Pop's father. Ming listens to their stories about living in Hong Kong, visiting Yosemite and Canada, and surviving San Francisco's big earthquake, as she looks around at the carvings all around the house. Carvings, Ming learns, made out of pine trees for long life and strong character. When they leave, Pop takes Ming to a grove of sequoias and one with an altar in its hollow base. Here, Ming learns about her father's life when he first came to America and receives some good advice from him. Before they leave, they find a way for Ming to have a Christmas tree that will be true to her Chinese culture. This is a nice historical fiction picture book that is more about what it was like to be Chinese in America and Chinese culture. It reminds us that we are a nation of immigrants, all of whom brought traditions with them and combined them with those in their new home land, much the way Ming's tree does. I really liked this story, and the old-fashioned color palette used for the illustrations, but some of the adult faces were a drawn a little too harshly, I thought. This is a picture book will probably lead to some lively conversations about how Christmas is celebrated in different homes.
briarsreviews's review against another edition
4.0
Ming's Christmas Wishes is an adorably fun children's book!
This is such a lovely tale about family during Christmas time. All Ming wants for Christmas is for her family to have a Christmas tree. This is not what her Mother wants since it is not a Chinese tradition. Along the way, Ming learns how to blend traditions.
The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous and make this feel like the whimsical Christmas tale it is supposed to be. The colours are very rich, which really stood out to me as a reader. I loved the entire style of these illustrations and hope to see more of the illustrator in the future.
Four out of five stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.
This is such a lovely tale about family during Christmas time. All Ming wants for Christmas is for her family to have a Christmas tree. This is not what her Mother wants since it is not a Chinese tradition. Along the way, Ming learns how to blend traditions.
The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous and make this feel like the whimsical Christmas tale it is supposed to be. The colours are very rich, which really stood out to me as a reader. I loved the entire style of these illustrations and hope to see more of the illustrator in the future.
Four out of five stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.
cathy_acasefullofbooks's review against another edition
4.0
With beautiful illustrations and a sweet story, this book is about a young girl who doesn't feel as though she fits in at school or at home. She wants a Christmas tree, but her mother is set on honoring family traditions from their home country.
I thought this was a great story about learning where you come from and why some traditions are important to keep around, even if the rest of the world looks a little different.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
I thought this was a great story about learning where you come from and why some traditions are important to keep around, even if the rest of the world looks a little different.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
teenage_reads's review against another edition
4.0
So normally I do not review picture books, but this one was so cute I just had to! Ming’s Christmas Wishes tells the story of Ming, a Chinese-American, who just wants to celebrate Christmas, that her mother says no too because they are Chinese. This includes not being allowed in the Christmas Choir, not having a tree in their house, and feeling like she belongs as her mother’s ice-out expression leaves Ming feeling unwanted. Set in the 1930s in California, Susan Gong does an excellent job at keeping this story for kids and adds educational parts as Gong explores the Chinese culture and traditions in the adventure Ming has with her Pop. With memorizing illustrations by Masahiro Tateishi this Chinese-American Christmas Story needs to be added to your December reading list as it is quick, cute, and fun, as Ming discovers the true meaning of Christmas as it is not all about the tree.
heathermcc's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Ming wants to try American holiday traditions during the winter season, and when she is unable, her father shows her family traditions that have a very special meaning.
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