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Chili-Chili-Chin-Chin
Best friends come in many shapes and sizes, and all it takes to make a friend is caring, sharing, and love. Just ask Chili-Chili-Chin-Chin, a mischievous little donkey whose best friend named him for the sound his bells make. With vibrant jewel-like artwork and gentle words, Belle Yang tells this charming tale of unexpected friendship between an impetuous donkey and a lovable boy.
- GenresPicture Books
32 pages, Hardcover
First published April 5, 1999
10 people want to read
About the author
Belle Yang
21 books16 followers"My Chinese name is Xuan, or "Forget-All-Sorrow." It is also Chinese for "lily of a day," notes Belle Yang. "If life spans a mere day, why spend it in worry?" Indeed, the author-illustrator of HANNAH IS MY NAME recalls a seemingly worry-free childhood in Taiwan and Japan, where she "doodled and fiddled around with words and discovered they were her life."
Now an author and painter, Belle Yang has developed a remarkable style that draws on her rich cultural background, influenced not only by childhood memories of Taiwan and Japan and her experience of immigrating to the United States at age seven, but also by her studies in Scotland and China. It was Belle Yang's homecoming from China to the U.S. after the Tiananmen Massacre that precipitated a new dedication to her art. "I returned with gratitude in my heart for the freedom of expression given me in America," she says. "I returned convinced that I would firmly grasp this gift with both hands." And since officially becoming an artist "sometime in the early nineties," Belle Yang's work has consistently garnered widespread acclaim for its vividness and authenticity. Notes Amy Tan, author of THE JOY LUCK CLUB, "Belle Yang is an American writer who writes in English and thinks in Chinese. Her writing feels Chinese. . . . It is as though we, the readers of English, can now miraculously read Chinese."
Belle Yang's latest book perfectly captures the essence of this Chinese-American fusion. HANNAH IS MY NAME is an immigrant story especially close to the author's own: "HANNAH IS MY NAME is based on our first years in San Francisco," she says. "I missed my old friends and teacher, but it was not a miserable yearning. It was a great privilege to come to the United States, and we didn't look back." Like the author, Hannah and her family move from Taiwan to San Francisco, where she takes a new name, begins a new school, learns a new language, and starts to adjust to a new way of life. Illuminated by Chinese-influenced paintings in jewel-like colors, Belle Yang's immigration tale represents one of the many facets of the American dream.
Belle Yang has written and illustrated four books and has participated in solo museum shows. She lives in California.
Now an author and painter, Belle Yang has developed a remarkable style that draws on her rich cultural background, influenced not only by childhood memories of Taiwan and Japan and her experience of immigrating to the United States at age seven, but also by her studies in Scotland and China. It was Belle Yang's homecoming from China to the U.S. after the Tiananmen Massacre that precipitated a new dedication to her art. "I returned with gratitude in my heart for the freedom of expression given me in America," she says. "I returned convinced that I would firmly grasp this gift with both hands." And since officially becoming an artist "sometime in the early nineties," Belle Yang's work has consistently garnered widespread acclaim for its vividness and authenticity. Notes Amy Tan, author of THE JOY LUCK CLUB, "Belle Yang is an American writer who writes in English and thinks in Chinese. Her writing feels Chinese. . . . It is as though we, the readers of English, can now miraculously read Chinese."
Belle Yang's latest book perfectly captures the essence of this Chinese-American fusion. HANNAH IS MY NAME is an immigrant story especially close to the author's own: "HANNAH IS MY NAME is based on our first years in San Francisco," she says. "I missed my old friends and teacher, but it was not a miserable yearning. It was a great privilege to come to the United States, and we didn't look back." Like the author, Hannah and her family move from Taiwan to San Francisco, where she takes a new name, begins a new school, learns a new language, and starts to adjust to a new way of life. Illuminated by Chinese-influenced paintings in jewel-like colors, Belle Yang's immigration tale represents one of the many facets of the American dream.
Belle Yang has written and illustrated four books and has participated in solo museum shows. She lives in California.
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February 16, 2016Title: Chili-Chili-Chin-Chin
Author: Belle Yang
Genre: Repetitive Book
Theme(s): Friendship, Personality, Ownership, Seasons, Self-expression, Donkeys
Opening line/sentence: Chili-Chili-Chin-Chin, a furry little donkey I am.
Brief Book Summary: This book tells a story of a Donkey who was named after the bells on his collar. He will not let anyway play with him besides the little boy who named him. This book describes their loving friendship through the seasons as he repeats his name many times not only showing his love for the boy but his love for himself, as a donkey.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Stephanie Zvirin (Booklist, July 1999 (Vol. 95, No. 21))
It's the slick, striking artwork in high-intensity colors that will attract little ones to this friendship story that introduces, very simply, the idea of self-determination. It focuses on a lively donkey, whose name, Chili-Chili-Chin-Chin, sounds like the tinkling bells it wears around its neck, and the little boy who named him. The text, narrated by Chili, stretches across the bottom of bright double-page spreads fairly bursting with colorful, stylized shapes that intriguingly distort reality. After establishing to a variety of onlookers what he is not (a pig, a dog, a puppy on a leash, etc.), Chili declares what he is, and he talks about the boy who spends time with him and gives him the latitude to be himself: "Chili-Chili-Chin-Chin I am." The pictures add a joyful lift to the idea.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: Publishers Weekly (Publishers Weekly)
In Yangs inaugural childrens book, the eponymous hero is a spunky purple donkey with a harness of bells that sings out his name. Though several people attempt to rein him in, Chili-Chili-Chin-Chin refuses to be ridden, owned or made to work in the fields until one special boy, the boy who gave me my name, comes calling. Then Chili-Chili-Chin-Chin is game for anything: I take him in the spring to find blossoms, in the summer to watch turtles swim, in autumn to pick persimmons, and in winter to make fresh tracks (the two even have matching tufts of hair on their heads). Although Yangs text occasionally teeters into heavy handedness (He gives me room to be alone in my thoughts. He knows my dreams whether I say anything or not, says the donkey), her buoyant gouache illustrations keep the story lighthearted. She characterizes scenes of cart drivers aloft and children spinning in mid-air with witty folk-art stylings and an exuberant sense of color. The artwork conjures a magical Asian landscape for Chili-Chili-Chin-Chin and his friend to frolic in a world where star-like flowers dapple the ground and the sky glows like sapphires.
Response to Two Professional Reviews: Both reviews describe this as a light-hearted story that the children will enjoy. It is a portrayal of friendship children can relate to. It is very appealing to the reader with the colors and story line. It is a book about self-determination and accepting who you are, name and all. The reviews emphasize the excellent illustrations and plot that emphasizes a friendly, inspiring story.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The book has a very readable style with the text along the bottom of the page and pictures that are bright and welcoming, making it a simple organization. The plot is also simple and easy for children to understand and connect to. The pictures show an Asian culture that children can learn from holding their attention until the end. The themes are also evident throughout the book that the children can reflect on.
Consideration of Instructional Application: This book can be used in a mini-lesson to discuss the importance of the individuality of each students’ name. It can be used to describe how everyone is different and that we must accept who we are individually. To continue from the mini-lesson the students can make individual nametags to see how they are all unique and that their name makes up who they are. The students and teacher can also discuss why friendship is important and talk about examples they see in classroom everyday, and how they can make their friendship as a classroom stronger if there are any issues that need worked out.
Author: Belle Yang
Genre: Repetitive Book
Theme(s): Friendship, Personality, Ownership, Seasons, Self-expression, Donkeys
Opening line/sentence: Chili-Chili-Chin-Chin, a furry little donkey I am.
Brief Book Summary: This book tells a story of a Donkey who was named after the bells on his collar. He will not let anyway play with him besides the little boy who named him. This book describes their loving friendship through the seasons as he repeats his name many times not only showing his love for the boy but his love for himself, as a donkey.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Stephanie Zvirin (Booklist, July 1999 (Vol. 95, No. 21))
It's the slick, striking artwork in high-intensity colors that will attract little ones to this friendship story that introduces, very simply, the idea of self-determination. It focuses on a lively donkey, whose name, Chili-Chili-Chin-Chin, sounds like the tinkling bells it wears around its neck, and the little boy who named him. The text, narrated by Chili, stretches across the bottom of bright double-page spreads fairly bursting with colorful, stylized shapes that intriguingly distort reality. After establishing to a variety of onlookers what he is not (a pig, a dog, a puppy on a leash, etc.), Chili declares what he is, and he talks about the boy who spends time with him and gives him the latitude to be himself: "Chili-Chili-Chin-Chin I am." The pictures add a joyful lift to the idea.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: Publishers Weekly (Publishers Weekly)
In Yangs inaugural childrens book, the eponymous hero is a spunky purple donkey with a harness of bells that sings out his name. Though several people attempt to rein him in, Chili-Chili-Chin-Chin refuses to be ridden, owned or made to work in the fields until one special boy, the boy who gave me my name, comes calling. Then Chili-Chili-Chin-Chin is game for anything: I take him in the spring to find blossoms, in the summer to watch turtles swim, in autumn to pick persimmons, and in winter to make fresh tracks (the two even have matching tufts of hair on their heads). Although Yangs text occasionally teeters into heavy handedness (He gives me room to be alone in my thoughts. He knows my dreams whether I say anything or not, says the donkey), her buoyant gouache illustrations keep the story lighthearted. She characterizes scenes of cart drivers aloft and children spinning in mid-air with witty folk-art stylings and an exuberant sense of color. The artwork conjures a magical Asian landscape for Chili-Chili-Chin-Chin and his friend to frolic in a world where star-like flowers dapple the ground and the sky glows like sapphires.
Response to Two Professional Reviews: Both reviews describe this as a light-hearted story that the children will enjoy. It is a portrayal of friendship children can relate to. It is very appealing to the reader with the colors and story line. It is a book about self-determination and accepting who you are, name and all. The reviews emphasize the excellent illustrations and plot that emphasizes a friendly, inspiring story.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The book has a very readable style with the text along the bottom of the page and pictures that are bright and welcoming, making it a simple organization. The plot is also simple and easy for children to understand and connect to. The pictures show an Asian culture that children can learn from holding their attention until the end. The themes are also evident throughout the book that the children can reflect on.
Consideration of Instructional Application: This book can be used in a mini-lesson to discuss the importance of the individuality of each students’ name. It can be used to describe how everyone is different and that we must accept who we are individually. To continue from the mini-lesson the students can make individual nametags to see how they are all unique and that their name makes up who they are. The students and teacher can also discuss why friendship is important and talk about examples they see in classroom everyday, and how they can make their friendship as a classroom stronger if there are any issues that need worked out.
October 6, 2008
The book wasn't horrible, but I was not impressed. I did not like the pictures at all. It is meant for a very young audience. But I couldn't see the point of the story, except that the donkey is good friends with the little boy. Even that was poorly told.
April 12, 2011
With this book students can see that even people that are complete opposites can be the best of friends.
This book is bursting with vibrant colors, so I would also refer my students to this book if we are learning about different colors.
This book is bursting with vibrant colors, so I would also refer my students to this book if we are learning about different colors.
May 5, 2013
★★Chili-Chili-Chin-Chin by Belle Yang
Yet, another meh book of the night. This one is about a donkey. He is named after the sound of a bell, Chili-Chili-Chin-Chin, after becoming best friends with a boy. Weird. And really, has anyone ever heard a bell make a noise like that.
Yet, another meh book of the night. This one is about a donkey. He is named after the sound of a bell, Chili-Chili-Chin-Chin, after becoming best friends with a boy. Weird. And really, has anyone ever heard a bell make a noise like that.
December 16, 2008
Chili-chili-chin-chin, a free-spirited donkey, tells of his love for the boy who named him after the sound his bells make.
February 9, 2010
Cultural diversity. Friendship.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews