Mountain Chef: How One Man Lost His Groceries, Changed His Plans, and Helped Cook up the National Park S
Mountain Chef: How One Man Lost His Groceries, Changed His Plans, and Helped Cook up the National Park S
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Charlesbridge Publishing
Annotation: Presents the life of Tie Sing, a Chinese trail cook, who was hired by millionaire Stephen Mather to cook for him and his associates as part of Mather's efforts to create a national park service and for whom Sing Peak in Yosemite is named.
Genre: [Biographies]
 
Reviews: 5
Catalog Number: #124948
Format: Publisher's Hardcover
Copyright Date: 2016
Edition Date: 2016 Release Date: 08/02/16
Illustrator: Lo, Rich,
Pages: 40 pages
ISBN: 1-580-89711-8
ISBN 13: 978-1-580-89711-2
Dewey: 921
LCCN: 2015040753
Dimensions: 29 cm.
Language: English
Reviews:
ALA Booklist (Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)

This picture-book biography features a little-known Chinese American whose ingenious meal planning was instrumental in the ultimate success of the National Parks Service. During a time when Asians in America had few or no rights, Tie Sing aims high. He takes "a job cooking for mapmakers as they tramped through the mountains, naming peaks," and his reputation for excellent cooking gets the attention of millionaire Stephen Mather, who hires Tie Sing to cook high-class, restaurant-style meals for 30 men on a backcountry tour of what is now Yosemite National Park, in an effort to secure political support for a federal parks program. Tie Sing's creative solutions to the problems of cooking on the trail are fascinating, and stories of minor disasters on the Yosemite tour highlight his ingenuity and resourcefulness. Paragraphs of straightforward text are more advanced than typical picture books, but the soft, expressive watercolor illustrations, some of which are based on historical photos, are a pleasing accompaniment. Ideal for the classroom, particularly this year, when the NPS celebrates its centennial.

Kirkus Reviews

Themes of racial discrimination, saving nature, and food and cooking are braided seamlessly in this picture-book biography.At the turn of the 20th century, Chinese men—whether immigrants or American-born—had little choice when it came to work. Most ended up as cooks in restaurants or laundrymen. But Tie Sing "had dreams as big as the country he loved" and made correspondingly expensive plans. Fueled by a love for the outdoors and a passion for cooking, he soon earned a reputation as the best trail cook in California. In 1915, Tie Sing was hired by millionaire Stephen Mather, who had invited a special group of men to go camping in the hope of convincing Congress to protect the country's natural wonders. For the first few days, Tie Sing kept everyone well-fed with sardine hors d'oeuvres, sizzling steaks, and fresh-baked sourdough rolls. Unfortunately, disaster struck, not once but twice, and Tie Sing lost much of his provisions but tweaked the menu to carry on. Tie Sing's talent and resourcefulness played a huge part in the success of Mather's mission, and within a year, Congress created the National Park Service. Pimentel's lyrically told account is to the point, explaining that "America was a tough place to be Chinese" before zeroing in on Tie Sing's culinary wizardry. Lo's illustrations have an appropriately faded look, neatly evoking both the times and the craggy wilderness. A frontier adventure that spotlights one of the many significant roles ethnic Chinese played in American history. (Picture book/biography. 5-10)

School Library Journal (Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)

Gr 2-5 Yosemite's Sing Peak honors Nevada-born backcountry chef Tie Sing. Chosen to be the chef for the Mather Mountain Party in 1915, Sing had to feed 30 men, some of whom were being wooed to back a plan for a national park service. Pimentel sets the stage by introducing readers to the inequality Chinese immigrants and Chinese Americans faced at the hands of white Americans. She fictionalizes, but modestly. This title stresses both Sing's foresight and his resourcefulnessresilience being necessary in this era of legal anti-Chinese discrimination. Final pages provide extra historical information with period black-and-white photos. The illustrations are well suited for a read-aloud: lively, expansive (usually spreads), and with a bright magenta vest identifying the hero. Considering the overtly positive nature of the work, adult readers might stress that while Sing overcame the immediate setback of accidents, he could not be expected to defeat the systemic prejudice that deprived himand other Chinese Americans and Chinese immigrantsof countless opportunities, no matter how big his dreams. Only two or three mules are depicted (not possibly enough for the job). Overall, this pencil and watercolor illustrated and eloquently written account of a Chinese American will satisfy every taste. VERDICT For any library wishing to enhance its diversity and inclusion collection. Patricia D. Lothrop, formerly at St. George's School, Newport, RI

Reviewing Agencies: - Find Other Reviewed Titles
ALA Booklist (Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Kirkus Reviews
National Council For Social Studies Notable Children's Trade
School Library Journal (Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)
Reading Level: 2.0
Interest Level: 2-5
Lexile: AD940L
Guided Reading Level: Q
Tie Sing was a frontier baby, born high in the mountains in Virginia City, Nevada. Growing up, he breathed crisp Sierra air and scuffed through sagebrush. He learned to write in both Chinese and English. 
     America was a tough place to be Chinese. Bosses paid Chinese workers less than white workers. Townsfolk spat out Chinese names like they'd swallowed river gravel. Most people with Chinese names ended up cooking in restaurants or washing clothes in laundries. Tie Sing, though, had American dirt under his fingernails--and dreams as big as the country he loved. Cramped shacks weren't for him. He made plans--big plans.

Excerpted from Mountain Chef: How One Man Lost His Groceries, Changed His Plans, and Helped Cook up the National Park Service by Annette Bay Pimental, Rich Lo
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.

The true story of a Chinese American mountain man who fed thirty people for ten days in the wilderness--and helped inspire the creation of the National Park Service.
 
Tie Sing was born in the mountains. The mountains were in his blood. But because he was of Chinese descent at a time in America when to be Chinese meant working in restaurants or laundries, Tie Sing’s prospects were limited. But he had bigger plans. He began cooking for mapmakers and soon built a reputation as the best trail cook in California.
 
When millionaire Stephen Mather began his quest to create a national park service in 1915, he invited a group of influential men—writers, tycoons, members of Congress, and even a movie star—to go camping in the Sierras. Tie Sing was hired to cook.
 
Tie Sing planned diligently. He understood the importance of this trip. But when disaster struck—twice!—and Tie Sing’s supplies were lost, it was his creative spirit and quick mind that saved the day. His sumptuous menus had to be struck and Tie Sing had to start over in order to feed the thirty people in the group for ten whole days. His skills were tested and Tie Sing rose to the challenge.
 
On the last night, he fed not just the campers' bodies, but also their minds, reminding them to remember and protect the mountains.
 
Today, you can hike to Sing Peak, named for Tie Sing, in Yosemite National Park.


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