Translated from the Chinese by Isaac Victor Headland
This Caldecott Medal winning book begins with this Chinese nursery rhyme and a picture of Mei Li (pronounced MAY LEE) playing with her mother. Thomas Handforth, the author and illustrator, was inspired by a neighbor girl named Mei Li while he was living and working as an artist in Beijing, China. The plot is simple: Mei Li runs away with her brother San Yu to go to the New Year Fair in the city. While she is there Mei Li experiences many adventures and tries to puzzle out her role as a girl in Chinese culture. The story ends with Mei Li happy to be home, and the Kitchen God appears to tell her that she can be a princess in her own home.
I do think the vivid black and white illustrations of Chinese life and people are the best part of this book. Hence the Caldecott Award. The message of “girls are meant to keep house and rule the home” will be offensive to some. Mei Li, however, is content with her brief adventure and return home. “Mei Li sighed happily, ‘It will do for a while, anyway.'” I would at least show the book to children who are learning about China as an example of how the Chinese people lived 75 to 100 years ago. And Mei Li’s excursion to the city might actually fascinate children who are interested in China and Chinese culture.
