illustrated by Bolormaa Baasansuren
Summary
School Library Journal:
K-Gr 2— The little round house of the title is a large tent, or ger, home to the nomadic people of Mongolia. In a spare first-person narrative, baby Jilu recounts his first year and introduces readers to the rhythm of his loving family’s nomadic life. They follow along to the group’s autumn quarters, where the ger is rebuilt and Jilu can “see the sky through the round hole in the roof.” When the first snow falls, the extended family moves on to their winter campground and celebrates the festival of Tsagaan Sar, the new year. In spring, after the lambs are born, they once again move on, and Jilu rides with his mother on her camel to the spring camp. Attractive full-page gouache illustrations by the Mongolian writer/illustrator Baasansuren show the round house’s interior as well as the characters’ clothes, including elaborate details such as painted woodwork, embroidery, and the texture of fabrics. Outside scenes depict the family’s traditional way of life in harmony with their environment. Pair this beautiful picture book with Ted and Betsy Lewin’s Horse Song: The Naadam of Mongolia (Lee & Low, 2008) for a storytime about these fascinating steppe people.—Monika Schroeder, American Embassy School, New Delhi, India –Monika Schroeder (Reviewed April 1, 2009) (School Library Journal, vol 55, issue 4, p99)
Awards:
- USBBY Outstanding International Books – Grades K-2: 2010