Cleversticks

This is an awesome story about a boy who can't seem to do anything right. He shows off his chopstick/eating talent with his preschool class. The pictures show people of diverse backgrounds, and the story is endearing.

Ling Sung is a kindergartener who just can't seem to do what the other kids do. He's dejected and feeling left out, until he discovers he's the only one in the class who knows how to use chopsticks! Very cute, realistic story that acknowledges difficult feelings. You'll cheer for Ling Sung as he teaches the other kids his special talent and gets help learning new ones. Great for preschool and early elementary school grades. My kids had to hear it three or four times in a row. Charming and realistic pencil illustrations. The entire classroom and the teachers are matter of factly depicted as very culturally/ethnically diverse.

I read this book to my daughter's kindergarten class during the week of Chinese New Year. It highlights how skills are developed at different rates and the wonders of cooperation.After reading the book, the teacher requested a copy to read to her kids at the beginning of school each year. She felt it was a perfect way to demonstrate the need for sharing and the value of differences.

When reviewing the book Cleversticks, I feel that children will find this book very appealing. Many children can relate to the conflict that occurs in the story and find it comforting when they realize that other children go through the same difficulties. The pictures are also very vivid and bright, which is very eye catching for it's young readers.