Father's Chinese Opera

April 28, 2014
Just as one has to learn to walk before running, this autobiographical story demonstrates that it takes time and practice to join the acrobats of the Chinese opera. Lo’s young narrator is stung when he isn’t allowed to join the opera after training with its best acrobat, but he eventually learns the value of patience. Splashed with bright splotches of watercolor, Lo’s drawings highlight the ornate costumes and dramatic movements of the performers, as well as his young hero’s pride, annoyance, and determination. Lo, whose father composed Chinese opera, offers extensive background about the art form and his own family in an afterword. Ages 3–6. Agent: Anna Olswanger, Liza Dawson Associates.

August 1, 2014

K-Gr 2-An unnamed young boy spends his day backstage watching his father conduct operas in Hong Kong, and he particularly enjoys watching the acrobats. He wants to become one and trains with the best but is heartbroken when he's told he's not yet ready to perform. His father explains that before he could write and conduct operas, he had to learn how to play all the instruments, so the boy starts at the bottom, ready to work his way up to the role he covets. The simple text is accompanied by large, full-spread watercolor-with-pencil illustrations. They are done in bright, saturated colors, but the expansive use of white space and washes of color over sketched lines makes them appear muted and muddy, evoking the dim world in the wings of a working theater. Coupled with the overly pat resolution that veers toward the didactic, this story won't spark interest in Chinese opera, and there are better titles out there about hard work for long-term goals.-Jennifer Rothschild, Arlington County Public Libraries, VA

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2014
Preschool-G In Hong Kong, the young son of a Chinese opera conductor watches actors sing, somersault, and pretend fight across the stage. He asks Gai Chui, the best acrobat, to teach him, and after a bit of practice (and boasting to his friends), he informs his mentor that he is ready to perform, but the acrobat just laughs. Instead, the boy becomes a flag carrier, an onstage role that's more suited to his expertise, and after working hard, he earns Gai Chui's praise. This simple picture book offers a strong story, a window into another culture, and a gentle lesson that's equally applicable to aspiring baseball players and ballerinas. The concise first-person narrative is effective, while the artwork sets the pages ablaze with the color, energy, and drama that entrance the main character. Appended notes discuss Chinese opera and Lo's family, particularly his father, who was a composer and orchestra leader for the Chinese Opera in Hong Kong some 50 years ago. A rewarding picture book with an unusual setting.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)