Shu-Li and Diego

by Paul Yee, illustrated by Shaoli Wang

tagged: new experience, fantasy & magic

Description

Shu-Li and Diego tells the story of how these two classmates meet the challenge of taking care of Baxter, a neighbor's dog. The two friends face disaster when Baxter runs away and they have to break the news to its owner.

About the Authors

Paul Yee

PAUL YEE was born in Spalding, Saskatchewan, and grew up in Vancouver's Chinatown. A former archivist, he now writes full time. His books have won many awards and honors, including the Governor General's Award (Ghost Train), the Ruth Schwartz Award (Ghost Train and Roses Sing on New Snow), and the Canadian Library Association Book of the Year Award (Tales from Gold Mountain). He has won the Vancouver Book Award and been shortlisted for the BC Book Prize, and his books have been named to several lists, including NYPL Books for the Teen Age (Dead Man’s Gold), ALA Notables and Booklist's Top Ten Historical Fiction. Most recently, Paul’s young adult novel Money Boy was named a Stonewall Honor Book and he won the Vicky Metcalf Award for a body of work. Paul lives in Toronto.

Shaoli Wang was born and raised in Qing Dao, China. She now lives in British Columbia where she has taught art to children and adults for over 25 years. Shaoli is the illustrator of numerous books by Paul Yee, including the highly acclaimed Bamboo and Chinese Fairy Tale Feasts.

Age:: 6 to 8
Grade:: 1 to 3
Reading age:: 6 to 8

Awards

Commended, Resource Links "The Year's Best"

Editorial Reviews

"This book would be a good addition to a school or public library’s collection where it can contribute to the existing body of books that deal with cross-cultural friendships or relationships...Recommended."

— CM Magazine

"Will delight readers with its tale of good citizenship, lending a helping hand, responsibility building and friendship."

— Resource Links

"Vivid characters and challenging plots create thought-provoking moral ambiguity for Yee’s readership...Wang’s shaded black and white line drawings and Yee’s chapter format create the feeling of a grownup book for newly independent readers, while younger children and their parents will appreciate Shu-Li and her friends as role models and will look forward to hearing more about them in this promising series."

— PaperTigers

Buy this book at:

Annotations

Librarian review

Shu-Li and Diego

by [Top Grade]

In this sequel to the popular Shu-Li and Tamara, award-winning Paul Yee recounts the adventures of Shu-Li and her classmate Diego as they face the challenge of taking care of Baxter, a neighbour's dog. The two friends face disaster when Baxter runs away.

This is a story about teamwork and responsibility. This is a sequel to Yee’s Shu-Li Tamara, and like its predecessor, the book shows the friendship between two characters from different cultural backgrounds. Students are encouraged to make connections to the people and places they encounter in their own communities.

Source: Association of Canadian Publishers. Top Grade Selection 2016.

Librarian review

Shu-Li and Diego

by [ABPBC]

This early chapter book is a sequel to Shu-Li and Tamara about an immigrant Chinese family in Vancouver. Shu-Li and her hardworking parents live in the culturally diverse Commercial Drive area where they operate a Chinese delicatessen. She and her classmate Diego assume the challenging responsibility of caring for a big, rambunctious dog, Baxter, while his owner is in the hospital. Shu-Li’s parents do not agree with this arrangement and when Baxter runs away, Shu-Li is faced with difficult moral decisions about whether to be honest with her parents and Baxter’s owner or to try and solve her predicament with Diego’s help. The satisfying resolution involves Shu-Li’s supportive multicultural neighbourhood.

Yee is an award-winning Canadian children’s author. He won the Governor-General’s Award for Ghost Train.

Source: The Association of Book Publishers of BC. BC Books for BC Schools. 2010-2011.