Movie Review: Sagwa's Storybook World
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What Parents Should Know
SAGWA THE CHINESE SIAMESE CAT is arguably one of the best
children's series to appear in a long time. It's colorful,
educational, and fun, with a moral message that sticks around
after the show ends. This story centers on Sagwa the cat's
family, who live in an Imperial Chinese household and are privy
to the inner workings of the Magistrate's family life. Though
she's aware of the outside world, Sagwa lives comfortably with
her siblings, her parents and her beloved grandparents, who
provide much of her cultural education through the stories they
tell and the rituals they keep. In short, Sagwa's world is a
lovely place to visit -- and a very pleasant way to spend time
with the entire family.
Common Sense Media Review
The story behind Amy Tan's children's book is an interesting
one. According to pbskids.org, Ms. Tan indeed had beloved a cat
named Sagwa, who was diagnosed with a severe illness. The news
troubled Ms. Tan, who became very worried about the impending
loss of her dear feline friend. One night, she had a vivid
dream about Sagwa -- not as a cat who lives in a contemporary
American city, but as a kitten among cats living in an Imperial
Chinese family in ancient China. When she awoke, she jotted
down the dream and was moved enough to mention it to her
friend, illustrator Gretchen Schields. Thus the story of SAGWA
THE CHINESE SIAMESE CAT was born -- and the real Sagwa was so
happy with the story that she lived to a ripe old age.
Ms. Tan's passion for her subject is evident in the attention paid to detail and the care with which each character is shaped. Fu Fu, Sagwa's best friend, is a sweet but clumsy bat who wears glasses and forever bumps into walls. Sagwa's Yeh Yeh (her grandfather) walks deliberately and enjoys spinning a tale for his grandchildren. Sheegwa is Sagwa's baby sister who though innocent, is opinionated and sensitive. Cook is a human who somehow understands the language of cats, dropping bits of shrimp into bowls for them as he prepares the Magistrate's meal. Here, Chinese culture is celebrated: mythological creatures like dragons are described, as are customs, meals and language. Obviously, SAGWA THE CHINESE SIAMESE CAT is a series crafted with love and attention to detail by a master storyteller. This DVD is sure to enrich any home viewing library.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
