Grandfather Counts

by Deborah J Short, Josefina Villamil Tinajero, Alfredo Schifini

When her maternal grandfather comes from China, Helen, who is biracial, develops a special bond with him despite their age and language differences.

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

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like the kids in this story, my niece and nephew are biracial, and they know a little Chinese from their toddler days. Their Chinese grandparents visit often and speak to the kids in Chinese. Both of the kids will enjoy encountering the Chinese words and characters in this story.

[M.M. Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet book that tells how generations can come together in love and understanding to learn from each other.

Grandfather has come from China to live with his daughter and family. He does not know English and the family, other than his daughter, do not know Chinese. Adjustments have to be made with all parties concerned. It is only with a daily travel of a train that runs in the back yard, that things begin to change.

Written in first person, I enjoyed how Grandfather and the young grand-daughter would sit out on the concrete wall waiting for the train go by. These sittings helped each to come to an understanding of each other. I am sure by the title of the book, you can figure out what each of them learned but they also learned so much more.

This book reminded me so much of fun times I had with my own Grandfather and by listening to him and watching him intently, I learned something. I hope that some day, my own grand-children will learn something from me. I always learn something from them and that is what love and family is all about.

The illustrations in the book were colorful, large and somewhat exaggerated, a nice addition to the book as a whole. This book was truly great and I would highly recommend it for families who are inter-generational or intercultural. 5 stars!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book for my open and honest opinion. The views here are 100% my own and may differ from yours. ~Naila Moon

[Claire Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary:

Written by Andrea Cheng and illustrated by Ange Zhang, Grandfather Counts tells the story of Helen, a young girl dealing with her grandfather moving from China to their home in America. Leading up to her grandfather's arrival, a nervous Helen has to give up her room and no longer can watch her favorite train pass by. When Helen's grandfather finally arrives, they are surprised to find that he only speaks Chinese and Helen only speaks English. This book shows how Helen and her Grandfather learn to communicate with each other by teaching each other English and Chinese, and bonding over trains.

Themes:

One of the major themes in this book is multicultural literature. This is shown through the cultural differences of Helen's Chinese family, and how the book shows importance placed on caring for and respecting elders in Chinese culture. Another major theme in this book is family dynamics. Helen's family drastically changes when her grandfather permanently moves in.

Personal Response:

I really enjoyed this book! I think this book is really heartwarming and makes me think about my grandparents. I also really like how the author put a Glossary in the book for Chinese words and numbers because it taught me something new, even at the age of 19. Also, the illustrations are really beautiful and you can see the love between Helen and her Grandfather in each page.

Recommendation:

I would definitely recommend this book to all kids in 1st or 2nd grade. This book is good for all kids to read because many children have to learn at this age how to handle their grandparents getting older. It's interesting to see how Helen handles her grandfather moving in. At one point she didn’t want him to move in, but in the end she is really happy to have her grandfather there. I think many kids can relate to this. Also, this book provides a good window into Chinese culture and the respect that they have for their elders.

[Yasmeen Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grandfather counts by Ange Zhang is realistic fiction text. Helen, a biracial Chinese girl, meets her grandfather Gong Gong who came from China to visit the family. He tries to speak to his grandchildren in Chinese and is surprised to find out that they don’t understand him. He keeps to his self and reads newspapers. One day he sat outside and Helen joined him. A train went by and he begins to count the cars that go by in Chinese. She counts them in English. From then on they bonded together by teaching each other how to read and write in their own languages. The illustrations are realistic and go with the text. Also, I like how the front of the book has a list of the Chinese vocabulary words used in the story. The author, Ange Zhang, was inspired to write this story after her friend from Hong Kong. Her parents came to visit and could not communicate with their four American grandchildren. I believe this story would be interesting to older children who have grandparents who speak another language. Because this book is based on a true story the characters are real and convincing.

[Hannah Holthaus · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story about a family who lives in America but has family in China. The grandfather moves to America so that his daughter can take care of him. Grandfather is very surprised when he arrives that his grandchildren do not know Chinese. His granddaughter, Helen, had to give up her room for him. She always enjoyed counting the train cars that went by. Her grandfather was having a difficult time adjusting and just stopped talking since no one could understand him. One night, Helen noticed that her grandfather was sitting out watching the train go by. Helen sat out there and started counting in English and her grandfather was counting in Chinese. Helen helped her grandfather learn to count and write their names in English, and he helped teach her how to write and count in Chinese. This is an awesome book that shows how families come together, but also how difficult it is for people to come to America and adapt to our lifestyle.

[Ashley B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is about a little girl who creates this precious bond with her grandfather. Her grandfather is coming from China and doesn't know any English. The little girl, Helen, doesn't know any Chinese, so there is a language barrier between the two. However, they bond over counting train cars. The grandfather teaches Helen how to count in Chinese and Helen teaches her grandfather how to count in English. This is how they bond and how they continue to help each other learn. The story is so cute and was fun to read. The pictures were great too.

[Kiersten Koch · Rating 4 out of 5]

In "Grandfather Counts," Grandfather visits from China, but the rest of his family now lives in the US and do not know much Chinese. This makes it hard for one of the daughters, as she really wants to talk to her Grandfather but doesn't know how. Through counting the cars on the trains that go by, the girl and her grandfather build a bond that doesn't need words. This book can be useful if a school has students who do not speak English as their first language, as it shows that you do not always need words to make someone feel connected and welcome.

[Megan Gavin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was fantastically put together! It is about a little girl, Helen, whose grandfather from China, Gong Gong, comes to live with her family. She doesn't speak Chinese, and he doesn't speak English. They finally break the ice by counting the number of train cars that roll by. First, they learn to count, and then they learn each others' names. This book would be fantastic for teaching a lesson on language barriers or moving to a foreign country.

[Alli Trenkamp · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great story that tells how generations can come together and learn from each other. In the story, Grandfather came home from China to live with his daughter and family. He doesn't know English and the family, does not know Chinese. However, they bond over counting train cars. The grandfather teaches Helen (the little girl) how to count in Chinese and Helen teaches her grandfather how to count in English! I love this story and would use this in my classroom.

[Charity · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for the BBRC A2Z challenge on Litsy.

My 10yo son and I both loved this one. My son especially liked how the grandfather and granddaughter, figured out a way to communicate without a shared language. I especially liked how the grandfather and granddaughter, both initially ambivalent about the grandfather moving in with the family, were able to form a relationship that made them both feel more at home in their new living situation.

[QNPoohBear · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet story of a girl who connects with her grandfather and her Chinese heritage through trainspotting. There's a glossary with pronunciation guide in the beginning. I really liked that. I especially liked the granddaughter connecting with her Chinese grandfather. In all the other stories I've read about Chinese grandparents, they overwhelmingly favor the boy. The illustrations look realistic but didn't wow me.

[Hannah Cussen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: Contemporary realistic fiction
2nd-3rd grade
I liked how the book showed the connection between Helen and her grandfather from China! It showed an example of what the family dynamic would be like if part of the family spoke a language other than English. I also like how the book showed that people from 2 different languages can interact & get excited about similar things. This was an inspiring book.

[Vanessa Becerra]

A girl meets her maternal grandfather who comes from China. Helen develops a special bond with her grandfather and he teaches her a different language. Is can be used by asking the classroom questions before the book like why is it important to know how to communicate then after the book answer some questions.

[Sophia Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Description: A young Chinese-American girl learns to count in both English and Chinese with the help of her grandfather.

Note: This book introduces basic counting skills while celebrating intergenerational relationships and Chinese culture. It can be accompanied by counting activities in both languages and discussions about family traditions.

[Earl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love intergenerational multicultural stories. This picture book was recommended by a librarian where I volunteer. A girl's grandfather comes to live with her and her family. The language barrier doesn't allow them to communicate much until they end up sharing the pastime of watching the trains pass by their house. Soon, they are teaching one another each other's language and learning more than they expected. If you enjoyed Mango, Abuela, and Me by Meg Medina, you'll enjoy this older title.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very sweet book about a girl building a relationship with her Chinese grandfather through learning each other's language.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hapa girl, sweet short picture book

[Gillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely introduction for me to Chinese language. I will do some more investigation as I hope to be able to use it in my teaching.

[Delaney Vetter]

It’s about a girl and her grandfather who learn to count in English.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this intergenerational story, a biracial girl and her Chinese grandfather face a language barrier. Her grandfather came from China to live with Helen’s family. She is excited but nervous because she is unsure how they will communicate. Throughout the story, they teach each other English and Chinese and find their own special ways to talk to one another. This is a great story that shows the life of someone who has a family that speaks a different language than them. It proves that you can always find a way around barriers.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grandfather Counts by Andrea Cheng, illustrated by Ange Zhang, and published by Lee & Low books in 2003, is the story of a Chinese grandfather coming to live with his daughter and his grandchildren in America. He does not speak any English and they do not speak Chinese. At first the communication is very difficult. Gong Gong, the grandfather, resists learning English and stays in the house and reads his Chinese newspapers. Helen, Gong Gong's grand daughter, resents that she has to give up her room for him, and thinks it is too hard to learn Chinese. They warm up to each other when they sit and count the train cars that pass by the house. Gong Gong teaches Helen to count in Chinese while She teaches her grandfather to count in English. This breaks the ice between them and they begin to respect each other and communicate in new ways. Zhang's pictures done in acrylic paint show the emotions that Gong Gong and Helen are feeling as their relationship develops. At the end of the book there is a glossary with Chinese and English words.

I loved this book because it bridges the gap between generations. America is a scary place for people that do not know the language. It is also difficult for kids who are completely "Americanized" to fit in with the culture and language of their origin. This story shows the importance of respect, empathy, and patience that families of immigrants and the immigrants themselves must put forth in order to make the process work.

I would use this book as a read-aloud with kindergarten throughout third grade. Students could discuss the different viewpoints of Gong Gong and Helen.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

For ages 6-8. The story was a story that many children could relate to. A Chinese-speaking grandfather moves to the United States to live with his daughter and her family. The children, the main character in particular, is resistant to her grandfather, who cannot speak communicate with her. Eventually the two bond over watching the trains pass their house, and each learns to count in the other's language.

The vocabulary is good, and introduces several simple Chinese words, as well as stretching vocabulary in English with words such as "terminal," "engineer," and "character." There is a short glossary of Chinese words at the beginning of the book, though each word is also explained in text. The glossary is helpful for pronunciation issues.

This book shows the diverse perspective of a Chinese-American family, and also the relationship between a grandfather and his granddaughter. It shows a child resistant to change, when she has to give up her bedroom for this new family member, but later accepting that she loves her grandfather and appreciates him as an addition to the family.

The illustrations are pretty good, but not amazing. I'm not sure how captivating they would be to a child.

This would make a good read aloud story for first through third graders. Many topics could be discussed with this book: New family members, relationships with older relatives, changes in family structure, the differences between Chinese and American culture, counting in other languages, even naming traditions in other cultures.

[Thao · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fiction book, Grandfather Counts, focuses on the integration of two cultures, American and Chinese cultures. The main character, Helen, has to accept the differences in her life when her maternal grandfather comes from China to live with her family. The book expresses the frustration of being unable to communicate with members within the family just as Gong Gong, the grandfather, and his grandchildren encounter. As the story progresses, Helen and her grandfather develops a special bond as they teach each other their respective language regardless of their age and language differences.

As a teacher, I will use this text to teach about colorful language used in the story, such as the similes and idiomatic phrases (ex. “eyes lit up”, “lump in my throat”). This lesson enables me to explain that a simile is a comparison of two unlike things using the words like or as (ex. “I miss those cracks, all connected and spreading out from the middle like the branches of a tree in winter”). Also, I would use this book to teach Chinese terms in a valid situation because Cheng intertwines Chinese words into the story.

The author, Andrea Cheng, studied Chinese while she was in college and she married the son of Chinese immigrants. She writes from the diversity of her own life as well as the experience of family members. The text used Chinese words which may allow a Chinese student to play the role of the connector to teach the group other Chinese words.

[Casey Reyes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grandfather Counts is a fictional story by Andrea Cheng. This story is about a young girl, Helen, who is patiently awaiting on the arrival of her Chinese grandfather. Helen's grandfather only speaks Chinese and Helen worries about how she will communicate with him. Throughout the story, Helen and her grandfather bond by teaching each other their first language. Helen slowly begins to teach her grandfather how to count in English while he teaches her how to count in Chinese. The story shows the language barrier between Helen and her grandfather as well as the love they share that helps them get through this difficulty. The book normalizes grandparents living with their grandchildren as well as families who speak multiple languages. Young readers who are from different countries will be able to relate to this book to understand that it is normal for families to know different languages. Another important part of this book was that the family was interracial. The mother is Chinese and the Father is American. Even though the author did not directly point this out during the story, it helps young readers see that one family is able to have much diversity. The illustrations are very detailed and go alone with each part of the story. The book is lengthy but is also very engaging.

[Lila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine having a grandfather that you don’t know very well come to live with you from China. You lose your bedroom, and you can’t even communicate with him because you don’t speak Chinese and his doesn’t speak English. Helen experiences a wide range of emotions as her Gong Gong (grandfather in Chinese) comes to live with her family. She notices that he has a lot to get use to as well. They find each other on the train tracks and count the cars in both English and Chinese. A strong bond is formed as they help each other with the new language. This book explores the mixed feelings and experiences that immigrants may have as they try to assimilate to a foreign place. It also explores how difficult it can be for biracial or bi-ethnical kids to understand part of their heritage. This is a great read, but unfortunately, Helen’s bi-ethnicity isn’t discussed at all. It is apparent that her mother is Chinese by the text and illustrations. Her father isn’t mentioned much and one can only tale that he isn’t Chinese by the illustrations. This is something that many young readers may overlook, and although a really great story, may not be the best for a biracial read.

[Julia Somer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a family member coming to live in America from overseas. Helen's grandfather, Gong Gong, is moving all the way from China. Unlike Gong Gong and her mother, Helen can not speak Chinese. This makes her feel like she can't communicate or connect with Gong Gong. This shows how families can experience disconnect with their own blood simply because of a language barrier. Gong Gong had a lot to adjust to. As the mother said,
"Give him time. He has so many things to get used to." Eventually, Helen and Gong Gong bond as they count the train cars that go by, in both English and Chinese. This book has a rich storyline and very colorful, detailed illustrations. Although it represents a bilingual family, the language does not really reflect that. There are just a few words in Chinese throughout the book. Overall, it is a sweet story that expresses what many multicultural families have to go through when dealing with relatives that do not speak the same language.

[Megan Baker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Grandfather Counts is a work of contemporary realistic fiction intended for primary readers. In this book a grandfather comes from Japan to visit his grandchildren. His granddaughter wants him to play with her but he doesn't want to leave his room. Eventually the grandfather learns that his grandchildren enjoy learning how to count in Japanese so he teaches them. At the end the young girl spends the time she wanted with her grandfather.
I gave this book two stars because it was a very boring book. The plot and setting were also boring and did not really keep my attention. The illustrations were very detailed and beautiful but that was the only thing that I found good about this book. I believe that children would not find this book appealing because the plot was not interesting and it was a slow book.

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book to reach out to children who have more than one language spoken in the home, or where English is not the primary language. It is also a great way to introduce children to the concept of culture dictating relationships and roles in the home. It could be helpful for a lesson on communication - what are the different ways we communicate? verbal/oral, physical, emotions - and then ways we use technology or other tools to help us - writing, typing, talking on the phone, sign language. Can you understand that someone is upset without them telling you? What about when they are happy? Language and communication is very important! How would you try to make friends with someone if you couldn't talk to them or understand them?

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book that shows the ups and downs of having a grandparent move in to the house. For younger children it can be hard having a new person move into a house let alone an older adult who needs care. I can see how many children can relate to Helen who is excited but, also nervous about having her grandfather moving in with her family. It is hard for anyone but, when you add the language issue to the mix it can be even harder. I think the book does a great job showing how it can be hard at first but, then one day things will click and things get better. This a great book to have in the classroom as a book to have for reading aloud to show a different culture or to help a student out who is going though a similar situation.

[Bailey Scales · Rating 4 out of 5]

Growing up I had a Mexican grandmother who could not speak any English and wanted desperately for me to learn Spanish so I was able to relate to Helen's and Gong Gong's relationship. In the classroom this book would be useful to demonstrate to children Chinese culture, Chinese names and numbers, as well as introducing to them different relationships between the elderly and children. Helen was at first unable to relate to her grandfather because they could not understand each other but then they both realized they had an interest in trains together and that is what bonded them. Gong Gong then learned how to write and say Helen's name and Helen learned how to count in Chinese. I would recommend this book for first or second graders.