Gai See: What You See in Chinatown

by Roseanne Thong

Book Overview

Follows a little boy as he shops with his family members throughout the seasons and discovers the magical curiousities found there - from fresh noodles and velvety slippers in the springtime, to tofu and tanks of fish in the summer, and from incense, sweets and roasted duck in the autumn to herbs and vegetables in the winter.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0810993376
• ISBN13: 9780810993372
• Release Date: May 2007
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
• Length: 40 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 8.8" x 10.8"
• Age Range: 4 to 7 years
• Grade Range: Grades 1 to 2

Customer Reviews

Gai See: What you Can See in Chinatown

Thong, Roseanne. Gai See: What You Can See in Chinatown. Illustrated by Yangsook Choi. Abrams Books for Young Readers. 2007. A little boy and his family stroll the street market (gai see) in different seasons of the year and see many things: plants, tofu, fish, incense sticks, fruit, and an aquarium that holds lobsters. A repeating phrase, "What in the world could you possibly see at an old gai see," and rhyming verses, "A slipper store- come take your pick- with wooden clogs that clack and click" describe the wonders of the street stalls. The illustrations are full of bright rich colors: in one double spread, an overhead view of the market reveals a diversity of people walking down the street, shopping and conversing with one another; Another shows the mother and son sitting at a table eating "oodles of noodles." Bold colors and simple text makes this a good book to share with a group.

Complimented by color drawings by Yangsook Choi.

Roseanne Thong's GAI SEE: WHAT YOU CAN SEE IN CHINATOWN tells of the Cantonese street expression 'gai see', or 'street market' - the place where vendors sell all their goods. A curious little boy explores these uniquely Chinese treasures and brings the reader along, complimented by color drawings by Yangsook Choi.