Goldfish and Chrysanthemums

by James Cheng

Nancy is helping Ni Ni (Grandma) in the kitchen when a letter arrives from China. Ni Ni grows sad when she reads that her childhood home is being town down, along with the chrysanthemum-filled garden and fish pond she has always loved.
After Nancy wins two goldfish at the summer fair, she comes up with an idea to keep Ni Ni's memories of the garden alive. Nancy gets to work the very next morning, and as the surprise takes shape, the familiar beauty of home brings the entire family together.

Goldfish and Chrysanthemums shows us all how one young girl can make a difference in the lives of the people she loves. This tender story is a testament to the special bonds that tie us together within families and across generations.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Family, China, Cultural

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2003

Reviews

[Jasmine from How Useful It Is · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic for kids! I love the trial and error of building the fish pond, how the water absorbs into the ground until Nancy figures out what she did wrong. I like that Nancy asks her parents' permission first before doing anything. It's great that Nancy involves her brother to help doing something nice for someone else. The story brings Asian heritage out by mentioning the rice, the city in China, and how to call grandma in Chinese. I like the positive family and neighbors dynamic in this book!

In this book, readers will follow a girl named Nancy. She felt bad for her grandmother when a letter arrived notifying her Grandma that the fish pond at her great grandfather's house back in China will be destroyed. There is a game at the fair where Nancy played and won a couple of goldfishes. She thought of an idea to build a fish pond in her parent's backyard as a surprise for her grandmother.

***Disclaimer: Many thanks to Lee and Low Books for the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.

xoxo,
Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com for more details

[Jordan Kinser · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book because it told a heartwarming story about a girl trying to cheer up her grandma and surprise her with memories of her past. It was nice to read a book about a family of Chinese ancestry, but that was not the focus of their characters. They had more depth than that, and it was only mentioned when her grandmother spoke of her home in Suzhou. This would be a good book to teach about projects or showing that people from diverse backgrounds aren't always stereotypes.

Grades: 2-4
Genre: Realistic Fiction

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ages 5 and up. When a young girl sees her grandmother's sadness over a letter reporting that her childhood home in China is being torn down, the girl works hard with her brother to make her a garden reminiscent of the one she has lost. A sweet story of family illustrating an immigrant experience for young readers.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet book about a grandmother missing the goldfish pond and flowers from her native country and the grandchildren who help recreate that for her here.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

The young girl likes to listen to her grandmother's stories, and finds that her grandmother misses her goldfish. So the young girl wins goldfish, and makes a goldfish pond together with her grandma. This is good for children that live with their grandparents to show them that they can still do things together.

[Tanja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure what happened here but the summary in the Goodreads record is totally wrong since this is the story about a young girl and her grandmother, the tender and loving relationship. A tender story, gentle and heart-warming just like Andrea Cheng's kid lit novels.
(Wasn't too fond of the font though, for some reason)

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this story about a young girl who decides to do something for her grandmother. The fact that the characters are of Chinese descent has no real bearing on the story. This could inspire many children of all ethnic groups.

[Barb Middleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two grandchildren cheer up their grandma who is sad that her brother's goldfish pond is being torn up to make way for a new apartment. Goldfish symbolize an abundance of gold and harmony in Chinese culture. Grandma's life is enriched by her grandchildren.

[Mari]

A grandmother gets news of her house being torn down in China, and sees her granddaughter's gold fish and gets sad I think? So the grandkids make a backyard gold fish pond and plant flowers to help their grandmother feel better.

[Leona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chinese grandmother learns her childhood home is being razed for development. She thinks of the pond and flowers in the garden. Granddaughter builds pond and plants flowers for grandmother.

[SARAH · Rating 2 out of 5]

A story about a granddaughter trying to do something nice for her Chinese grandmother mourning the loss of her childhood home.