Hi Book Cart Queen readers! It’s been a minute. (Or maybe a year). I’ve got a new job (back at my old library in a new role), and I worked through a fantastic year on the 2023 Caldecott Committee.
I’m not sure what future posts will look like. I miss blogging, but blogging is also time consuming – and I’m not sure I want to spend quite as much time on here as I did a year ago. I’m also in a different role now. I program occasionally, but not nearly as much as I did a few years ago. I still have a bunch of old programs I’d like to share, and I still read a ton of books each year, so there may be more content to come – but for now, know that things will be much more occasional and a little less structured.
All that said, I received an email from the lovely folks at Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing about an opportunity to review the newest Amu Wu book – and I couldn’t pass it up. I featured Amy Wu a few years ago as part of a video book talk series, and Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao has been a regular feature in my storytimes for Preschoolers, Kindergarteners, and 1st Graders.
Learn more about this fantastic new title below!
Amy Wu and the Ribbon Dance
Author Kat Zhang and illustrator Charlene Chua return with another fantastic Amu Wu adventure. Amy continues to learn more about her heritage – this time exploring dancing and movement with Chinese ribbon dancing.
Amy’s want to wiggle, shimmy, and move will feel familiar to kids and their grown-ups – including librarians leading a room full of wriggling storytime attendees.
Amy is fascinated by the art of ribbon dancing, and she can’t wait to share her new passion with her friends.
But Amy doesn’t have a fancy dancing ribbon and all of her makeshift ribbons don’t work. Some are too heavy, some are too light, and nothing flutters and twists in just the right way.
Will Amy be able to show her friends how to ribbon dance after all?
Just like in Amy’s other stories, the kindness and patience of her family and friends help Amy figure out how to overcome her current challenge. Charlene Chua’s lively illustrations capture Amy’s emotions – from pure joy to confusion and occasional frustration and sadness. The bright colors and quick pace will keep young listeners engaged, particularly young fans ages 4-8.
Like other Amy Wu titles, this book lends itself to a storytime read aloud. As if written with librarians and teachers in mind, it includes your own Homemade Dancing Ribbon craft at the end – a perfect way to wrap up a storytime themed around movement and dancing (before a dance party of course!).
Amy Wu and the Ribbon Dance releases from Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing on May 30, 2023.
ABOUT THE BOOK
When Amy Wu learns about Chinese ribbon dancing, she can’t wait to try it out herself in this charming and brightly illustrated fourth installment in the Amy Wu picture book series.
Amy Wu loves to move. From wriggling to shimmying to toe-tapping, she just can’t keep still, not when there’s music all around her! So when Amy sees Chinese ribbon dancing for the first time, she has to try it out. Only, how can she throw the perfect dance party when she doesn’t have the perfect ribbon for her dance?
A special story from Mom may be just the thing to get Amy moving to the music again.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kat Zhang loves traveling to places both real and fictional—the former have better souvenirs, but the latter allow for dragons, so it’s a tough choice. A writer of books for teens and children, she spends her free time scribbling poetry, taking photographs, and climbing atop things she shouldn’t. You can learn more about her at KatZhang.com.
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Charlene Chua draws many things, from baos to dragons, and everything in-between. When they are not drawing, they enjoy cooking, reading, and playing with their cats. Charlene grew up in Singapore, and now lives in Canada. Her favorite baos are still char siu baos, and her favorite dumplings are air-fryer wontons!
