Ten Mice for Tet

by Pegi Deitz Shea, Cynthia Weill, Tô Ngọc Trang (Illustrator)

It's time for Tet! This vibrant, unique counting book introduces children to the rich traditions of the Vietnamese New Year. A playful village of mice lead young readers through the joyful celebration, as exquisitely embroidered illustrations recreate ten scenes of preparation, gift giving, feasting, and firework displays. With simple text followed by an informative afterword, Ten Mice for Tet is a joyful tribute to a special holiday. Honors for Ten Mice for Tet! :
2004 CCBC (Cooperative Children's Book Center) Choices selection
Kirkus Reviews starred review
2004 Notable Books for a Global Society

Genres: Picture Books, Holiday, Childrens, Counting, Cultural, Animals, Fiction

30 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2003

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Ten Mice for Tet joint authors Pegi Deitz Shea and Cynthia Weill (American) join forces with illustrator Ngọc Trang Tô and embroidery artist Phạm Viết Đinh (both Vietnamese) to present a mouse themed counting picture book celebrating and describing Tet (which is what the Lunar New Year is known as in Vietnam). And with Deitz Shea and Weill using the numbers one to ten in combination with a very simple text, Ten Mice for Tet has a group of (Vietnamese) mice preparing for and then celebrating the Lunar New Year (from planning a Tet party, shopping for supplies, cleaning and making the house spic and span for the holiday to celebrating, eating special treats, receiving special gifts and finally with all of the mice watching celebratory Tet fireworks). And yes, Ten Mice for Tet closes with a detailed and extensive afterword explaining Tet as a holiday and each custom and tradition depicted in the main textual body (but unfortunately not with an included bibliography with suggestions for further reading).

Now while I do think that Ten Mice for Tet is a nice enough simple counting book for very young children and a basic introduction to Tet (and with the accompanying illustrations/embroidery being colourful and unique), personally (since I have never really enjoyed anthropomorphic animal stories and in particular those featuring mice), I certainly would enjoy this book (even with its textual simplicity) considerably more if instead of mice, Ten Mice for Tet would actually not be using mice as main characters but human beings (and that yes, this is also why my rating for Ten Mice for Tet will have to be three stars and no more than three stars).

And I guess that I am also kind of curious exactly why in Ten Mice for Tet, the authors would consider using murine characters? Yes, I know and realise that mice (for some reason) are pretty popular in picture books. However, aside from me simply (as already mentioned above) not liking anthropomorphic animal tales (and for both my adult self and also my inner child), I also do have to question what mice in particular and specifically have to do with Vietnam as a nation (and with Tet as a celebration) and that if Pegi Deitz Shea and Cynthia Weill had wanted anthropomorphic animals for their story, for their Tet- based counting picture book, if it would not make more sense to introduce the Vietnamese Lunar New Year celebrations using a group of animals specifically native to Vietnam or considered to bring good luck during and for Tet (for example, how for German New Year celebrations, pigs are supposed to bring good riches and good fortune).

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

American co-authors Pegi Deitz Shea and Cynthia Weill join forces with Vietnamese illustrator Ngọc Trang Tô and embroidery artist Phạm Viết Đinh in this murine counting book that celebrates Tet, as Lunar New Year is known in Vietnam. From one to ten, the mice prepare for and celebrate this holiday, from shopping and cleaning to eating treats and watching fireworks. The book closes with a detailed afterword explaining each custom depicted in the main narrative...

Only the second picture-book I have encountered about Tet, following upon Kim-Lan Tran's Têt: The New Year , Ten Mice for Tet is a sweet little counting book, one that could serve as an introduction to this holiday for very young children. The main text is quite simple, and is paired with colorful and unique artwork, which was first drawn by Ngọc Trang Tô and then embroidered by Phạm Viết Đinh using cotton thread and cloth. Recommended to picture-book readers seeking stories for Tet, or set in a Vietnamese cultural context. Also recommended to readers interested in embroidered and other sewn styles of artwork.

Note: Embroidery and other sewn artwork is not common in the picture-book form, although fans of the style might want to check out Sieglinde Schoen Smith's quilted illustrations, in Mother Earth and Her Children: A Quilted Fairy Tale , as well as Belinda Downes' embroidered illustrations, in titles such as A Stitch in Rhyme: A Nursery Rhyme Sampler and Joan Aiken's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs . Also of note are the yarn-paintings of indigenous Huichol artists, to be found in Hallie N. Love and Bonnie Larson's Watákame's Journey: The Story of the Great Flood and the New World .

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ten Mice for Tet! by Pegi Deitz Shea, Cynthia Weill, Ngọc Trang Tô, and embroidery by Pham Viet-Dinh is a unique counting book introducing the traditions of Tet, the Vietnamese New Year. A village of mice are shown through embroidered illustrations in scenes of preparation, gift giving, feasting and fire works.

The text of the picturebook portion is very basic, concentrating on the counting component. Sentences in the counting part all start with a number and the word mice or mouse. With help, the picturebook part could be successfully read by beginning readers, with the very large bold font and short sentences.

The author's note briefly explains the holiday and then describes in more detail what is involved for each number shown, using Vietnames names for key objects. An approximate phonetic spelling for each Vietnamese word is given.

The beautiful illustrations are a true highlight. The textured look of the embroidered illustrations adds to the feeling of being tranported to a faraway place and unique culture. The mice are quite appealingly drawn.

I liked this book. I do wish that in the authors note section that there had been more items labeled by name so that the adult reader could go back to point out specific details to children, such as specific foods pictured.

For ages 3 to 7, Tet, celebrations, hoiliday, Vietnamese culture, mice, counting themes and fans of Pegi Deitz Shea, Cynthia Weill, Ngọc Trang Tô and Pham Viet-Dinh.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book that introduces the Vietnamese holiday of Tet. Colorful illustrations starring mice, this book has both a cultural and an educational (counting) message. At the end there's even more information for parents about the holiday and the language.

This book is one of the books highlighted in the Children's Book Group Picture-Book Club for the January 2023: New Year's Celebrations discussion.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tet is the Vietnamese new year. It is a time of holiday and celebration. In this counting book, village mice show the reader what Tet is like. Each number have a short sentences describing each scene. The illustrator drew the pictures and had the scenes embroidered. Pictures were taken of the embroidery creating the book. This is a great book to help children learn about other cultures while learning to count to ten. The afterword of the book helps by given background information on Tet and each page of the book.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

The illustrations are embroidered! I repeat: the illustrations are all EMRBOIDERED!!! So cool!

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations! A story that will be a great introduction to Vietnamese New Year.

[Elizabeth Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shea, Pegi Deitz& Weill, Cynthia. Ten Mice for Tet. Illus. To Ngoc Trang. Embroidary Pham Viet Dinh. Canada: Raincoast Books, 2003. Print. In this children’s story a group of Vietnamese mice are getting ready for Tet. They all split up and accomplish different tasks before the celebration. Two things stuck out to me in this picture book; the illustrations and the theme. As you look closely at the artwork you will notice embroidered stitching all throughout the pictures, which truly sets this book apart and bring out the quality. Also I love how this book is set for young readers but can teach so much about another culture. In using this book in a classroom I would gear it towards Kindergarten or First grade. Each day during the week we can use our book to learn about Tet and participate in cultural activities.

[Nikki Chadwick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ten Mice for Tet would be a book for new readers to enjoy by themselves. It is interesting to children, and is age-appropriate and utilizes style and language that are appropriate for the children’s age. The illustrations correspond to both the text and the setting, plot, and characters; and hold interest to the reader, which enhance and add to the story. The characters in the story are not stereotyped negatively. The characters’ lives are genuine and complex which help hold the readers interest. The author and illustrator are both from Vietnamese backgrounds. This is fiction.

[Sydney · Rating 3 out of 5]

A charming counting book focused on the Vietnamese New Year celebration, Tet. Colorful embroidered illustrations of mice preparing for the celebration fit in very nicely with our preschool's PYP Unit of Inquiry on celebrations and preparations for those celebrations. My students enjoyed this book and it inspired a great deal of conversation.

[Christine Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A village of mice prepares for Tet, or Vietnamese New Year, as different numbers of mice give gifts, cook food, and celebrate in other traditional ways. Includes an afterword with facts about the holiday. www.hcpl.net

[Hannah Lady · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ten Mice for Tet, is a good book for learning about a new culture. Although, there is a story about mice in it it does have great information on cultures. I really enjoyed this book because I had not known about Tet, through a story about mice I learned a lot along with enjoying the book.

[Thuy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book to teach your children about the Vietnamese New Year

[Shelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story describing the four day celebration of the Vietnamese New Year. Great way of sharing another culture and how some of the traditions originated.

[Nancy Schroeder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Through counting and embroidered illustrations, this book showcases some of the activities that are done to prepare for and celebrate Tet, the Vietnamese New Year.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

A counting book of activities that a family of mice engage in to celebrate the Vietnamese New Year or Tet. Good read aloud for PreK with illustrations rendered in embroidery.

[Sara Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun way to learn about Tet, Vietnamese New Year. The embroidered illustrations add to the story.

[Joan Arbogast · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful, colorful counting book about the Vietnamese New Year.

[Brooklyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love books that share some insight into different cultures. The book explains the Vietnamese holiday and shares words from the language. It is a great way to introduce other cultures to students.

[Cheryl]

only if handy

[Kest Schwartzman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I spent the whole book marveling at the lovely embroidery effect on the illustrations, only to find out, in the authors note, that these are ACTUAL EMBROIDERIES, photographed for printing.

also while the counting section is, well, a counting book, which is to say, hard to write in a way as to entertain the adults who will likely be reading this book aloud, the extensive notes at the end were simple to understand and also really quite educational. I truly love when I also learn something from a picture book, in addition to the kids it is aimed at.

[Sasha Boersma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the most exciting story. The concept is great - telling the story of Vietname’s Tet, which exposes children to holidays of other cultures. It feels like something that would work best in a classroom environment, as a tool for teachers.

What I do love about it - the artwork!! It’s all done with embroidery which gives the book a distinct and gorgeous look.

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! Tet is the story of the Vietnamese New Year. Little ones will enjoy counting the mice as they prepare for the new year! The illustrations are amazing embroidered cloth pictures; beautiful!

[Kimberly]

1 sentence per page. Bright colors and strong illustrations. Simple counting book demonstrating with each number different activities that take place during celebrations for Tet. The back of the book includes helpful information with a paragraph explaining each Tet activity.

[Katelynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book about how the Lunar New Year, or Tet, is celebrated in Vietnam. It is a counting book featuring mice preparing for the holiday and celebrating.

[Emily Downs · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a good learning book if the kids are trying to learn how to count to ten. It would be a good book also if you’re trying to bring awareness to other cultures!

[Amy Mccarty]

#*12/11/13MD

[Michelle Farella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple Chinese new year picture book. Good for storytime with the younger set.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple book - more appropriate for preschoolers.
Beautiful illustrations which are pictures of hand done embroidery - which of course is what sold me on it!

[Laura]

This book tells the story about a village that is getting ready for the Vietnamese New Year. I would use this book in my class as a source to learn the Vietnamese culture.