In her first title as both author and illustrator, Ying-Hwa Hu (Jingle Dancer illustrator) tells the joyful bilingual story (in English and Chinese) of a girl's Chinatown walk to brunch with her uncle.
"Uncle Eddie is taking Mia to the Big Wok for dim sum." It's 10 blocks to the restaurant and Mia is excited because "there's so much to see on the way": one giant panda (a coin-powered animal to ride), "three ageless turtles" (toys swimming in a kiddie pool), 10 red lanterns swaying at the entrance of the Big Wok. Once Uncle Eddie and Mia's food arrives, it's a delicious countdown from 10 soup dumplings to two egg tarts--and one bowl of steamed anchovies (to go) for the ginger cat that joined them on their 10-block walk.
Hu's watercolor, pastel and digital illustrations are detailed and painterly, showcasing the delights that can be found in the everyday. Mia and Uncle Eddie's faces are expressive, showing their interest in the two stone lions, their focus as they practice tai chi chuan with five neighbors or their glee watching seven silk fans "dance in the morning breeze." The dual-language text makes this picture book an excellent choice for a read-aloud with English or Mandarin speakers; for young solo readers, a fan on the bottom corner of the right page counts in English and Chinese characters, making the content easily understandable for children who read either language. Every brightly colored and elaborately illustrated page in Ten Blocks to the Big Wok is a celebration of community and culture. --Siân Gaetano, children's/YA editor, Shelf Awareness