Uncle Peter's Amazing Chinese Wedding (Look)

                                        

Look, Lenore. Uncle Peter’s Amazing Chinese Wedding. Ill. by Yumi Heo. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2006. ISBN 9780689844584

PLOT SUMMARY
Jenny is a young girl in a very bad mood. Her favorite uncle, Uncle Peter, is getting married and she is afraid that she will no longer be his “special girl”. In an attempt to prevent the wedding, Jenny gets a little mischievous. Despite Jenny’s intentions, the wedding continues and even Jenny can’t help but get caught up in the fun. In the end, Jenny decides that Uncle Peter’s marriage is worth celebration.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Lenore Look has written a playful book about Jenny, a young Chinese-American girl, as she experiences her Uncle's wedding. Exquisite metaphor and rhythmical qualities make this book ideal for reading aloud. Cheerful sentences, like "I am the jelly on his toast, and the leaves in his tea" will make readers smile and will stick in their heads long after the story's conclusion.

Readers will experience and learn the meaning behind many Chinese wedding traditions, including a tea ceremony, the gifts of "hungbau" and gold jewelry for luck, and a bed-jumping ceremony for fertility. Special foods, such as "wedding soup" and "long-life noodles" are featured as an important part of the wedding. Readers will also learn about how these wedding traditions have changed over time. Although this book will provide an education for those unfamiliar with Chinese wedding traditions, it never becomes laborious. The focus of the story remains on Jenny and her emotional turmoil. In the end, readers will rejoice with Jenny as learns that she is no less loved and decides to join in on the fun.

Illustrations of oil, pencil and collage add whimsy and joy to the story while adding to the cultural identity of the text. The excitement of the wedding is perfectly captured, along with the sour, somber expressions of Jenny. When Uncle Peter drives to pick up his bride from her house, Jenny is shown sulking in the back seat of the car while everyone is wreathed in smiles. Throughout the story Chinese symbolism is displayed in the background. As Uncle Peter and Aunt Stella share their first kiss, symbols of luck like red cloths and pairs of birds float behind them.

The illustrations show diversity in appearances among family members and wedding attendees. A variety of hair textures, skin tones, and clothing styles are the perfect backdrop for a modern Chinese wedding in the United States. The groom's tuxedo stands in contrast to his bride's traditional red silk dress and many of the children's shorts and t-shirts.
　
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Booklist- “universal emotions about family and change”
Kirkus Reviews- “Children of any culture will accept with pleasure Look's invitation to witness this distinctive iteration of a universal life event.”
Publisher’s Weekly- “a standout because of its appealing narrator”
School Library Journal- “A delightful invitation to learn more about Chinese traditions.”

CONNECTIONS
Read other Look has written about Jenny.
Henry’s First-Moon Birthday. ISBN 9780689822940
Accompany Uncle Peter’s Amazing Chinese Wedding with a chapter book perfect for read alouds.
Lin, Grace. The Year of the Dog. ISBN 0316060003

Learn about weddings in other cultures through these picture books.
Ammon, Richard. An Amish Wedding. ISBN 9780439259408
Bunting, Eve. My Mom’s Wedding. ISBN 9781585362882
English, Karen. Nadia’s Hands. ISBN 9781590787847
Jackson, Ellen. Here Comes the Brides. ISBN 9780802784681
Soto, Gary. Snapshots From the Wedding. ISBN 9780698117525