William Low

This board book is not in my library, by choice. I decided not to purchase it because although it is supposedly bilingual (brilliant idea), that is not really true. The grandfather of the child I wished to purchase it for, although fluent in Chinese and part of the Cantonese-speaking diaspora, was educated in Hong Kong and would not be able to read it. Right on the cover it has simplified characters in the title. It calls Chinatown its proper Cantonese name (唐人街 "Tang people's show more street"), which is good, but the Welcome To part of the title contains multiple simplified characters. Simplified characters are not widely used among overseas Cantonese people and are not seen in Chinatown. So this review is by way of a heads-up to people not fluent in Chinese who would hope that the book could be shared between a grandparent and grandchild. Maybe it can, but enquire first.

Our little one can wait a year or two and share her brother's copy of the 32 page book "Chinatown" written for slightly older children by the same author. show less

toddler/preschool picture book (trucks and construction machines)
large, engaging fold-out pictures of TRUCKS are sure to draw attention, and are sandwiched neatly between onomatopoeia sounds. This is definitely one of those books that will draw readers closer (they always want to touch the pages when they see things of great interest). Nice vocab, too.
"GZZZZZZZZZK! This backhoe is ready. The stabilizers are down.
Is the backhoe digging up the flowers?
No, it's digging a hole for new crab-apple show more trees. The flowers are safe.
"WWAAAAAWWWWWWWWRRR! [picture of firetruck]
Is there a fire in the cherry blossom trees?
No, a kitten is stuck in the tree. Thanks to the firefighter for setting her free."

preschoolers and older toddlers will get more out of the question/answer puzzles, but younger toddlers will also listen with rapt attention. show less

B This is an inventive look at machines, combining it with large flaps to open and questions to engage. Low looks at one machine after another that works in the city and then asks a question about it.

Author/illustrator William Low explores the day-to-day life of New York City's Chinatown in this picture-book, using a young boy who spends most of his days with his grandmother as a narrator. Visiting the park for a tai chi class, going to market for fresh snapping crabs, the boy and and his grandmother enjoy many activities together, culminating in his favorite festival - Chinese New Year.

Although I have read books illustrated by Low, Chinatown is the first book I have picked up that he show more both wrote and illustrated. It was first published in 1997, so it isn't the newest title out there, but it is engaging, and the activities chronicled are every bit as relevant today as they were twenty years ago. The artwork, done in oil paint on board, are colorful and somewhat impressionistic. Recommended to anyone looking for children's stories set in Chinatown, and featuring Chinese-American life. show less