"Ten little dumplings
Their brushstrokes flow like music.
And the ten little dumplings ...
Grew into ten fine men.
How proud their parents were!
All of their sons successful and respected."
How fortunate for a family in Taiwan to be blessed with ten sons - and one daughter. That daughter is barely recognized as a part of the family. Sons have more value in this Chinese culture as they carry the family name forward. All talk is about the fine boys, called 'little dumplings' by their very pleased parents. The play together, eat together, explore together, celebrate together. Their days and nights follow a pattern of finding peaceful sleep, bringing good luck, excelling at school, and growing up to be fine and respected members of society.
Only then does the narrator introduce herself as having been there all along. Attentive listeners are sure to have noticed her, although she is often obscured by a variety of objects. Her orange hat can always be found, if one looks carefully. It turns out that, while she keeps herself in the background, she has been there all along.
"I listened.
I studied.
I learned.
I discovered I had my own talent.
And so I made my way in the world."
Rich visual literacy is found in abundance on every spread. Readers will be excited to go back and find the girl there. Each of the boys is given a unique personality in the art, and the young girl blends in beautifully.
Ms. Tan describes this book as her 'first attempt to reveal another viewpoint to a traditional tale, to write in someone who has been left out.'
Today she shares her joy at being the parent to a daughter ... her own little dumpling. Lucky she is.
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