Title: Bobby and Boo: Learn to Count in Chinese Too
Author: Kathy de Bruin
Publisher: XlibrisAU
ISBN: 978-1-5434-0307-7
Genre: Educational Illustrated Children’s Book
Pages: 28
Reviewed by: Peg Haller
Pacific Book Review
For those who speak English, learning to count to ten in foreign languages such as French, Spanish, Japanese and Chinese should all be something we learn as children. Author Kathy de Bruin makes learning to count in Chinese a simple, fun and poetically enjoyable experience. In her book Bobby and Boo: Learn to Count in Chinese Too, she brings each Chinese number into an easy-to-remember poem ideally suited for children to read along. Having the blue-eyed boy Bobby and his cat Boo seeking a lost shoe, counting birds, or playing with toys, Bruin uses these actions for the creation of the 4 stanza poem, each ending with the number along with the translation. As the poems progress, the numbers are repeated so as by the time you reach 10, readers have “counted” many times and have a good understanding of just how the flow of numbers are used to count in Chinese – an amazing accomplishment in such few pages.
Using Chinese numbers becomes the challenge, as not to forget the numbers due to lack of applying this newly gained knowledge. That may need to be exercised by having adults go over and over in various ways of the counting process. I have learned the ultimate challenge for understanding the foreign language of counting is being able to count from 10 to 1, backwards so to speak.
Adorned with simple illustrations by artist Genesis Ray Pelobello, the poems and text blend seamlessly into a short lesson for the insatiable minds of youngsters. I would bet that after only two or three readings, children will have mastered this accomplishment. Having this book alongside the many other storybooks a child can read or be read to at bedtime, will make an educational improvement into the bedtime or afternoon reading time enjoyment. Children can then play with each other counting in Chinese. What fun!
It is always impressive when multilingual skills are gained by people, and the best time is when they are young. Bobby and Boo: Learn to Count in Chinese Too can give children this ability so if and when the situation arises they will no-doubt impress their friends. This book makes a very special gift, especially to those of multi-cultural families. It is just the right amount of information to teach the basic skill set to count in Chinese. The illustrations are simple and cheerful, to help keep children entertained without distracting from the actual lessons. I highly recommend this book for parents looking to expose their child to a second language early on.
