Written by Katrina Moore, Illustrated by Xindi Yan, Published by Little Bee Books, 2020. (Fiction, 4-7)
This book brings to the forefront an interesting situation, how can you connect with a family member if you do not speak a common language? I know that this is a reality for many families, because mine was one of them. I only speak English because that was the only common language between my mother and father, as a result, sometimes it was hard to have a conversation with my Yeh Yeh growing up. Yes, you find ways to communicate, but it is important to acknowledge that sometimes it takes a little extra work and patience from both parties.
BACKGROUND
Daisy is so excited that her Yeh Yeh has come to visit from China. However she finds that Yeh Yeh does not act the way she envisioned. Her mother advises her that love can be shown in many ways. #OwnVoices
BEST FOR
About a ten minute read aloud that can be used for a grandparent night. It can also open discussions about family, empathy, communication, and finding common ground.
PAIR WITH
Ojichan’s Gift by Chieri Uegaki
WHERE TO PURCHASE
A perfect marriage between storytelling and art that makes for a charming read. Balasubramaniam elegantly addresses cultural differences and generational misunderstandings while Leng’s drawings bring out the humorous spark out of each character. I loved this book and think kids and adults alike will connect with its themes.
Canada has a lot of publishing companies that produce great Indigenous children’s books written in own voice. This would be no exception. Author Monique Gray Smith is Cree, Lakota, Scottish and wrote this book with the intention of healing and reconciliation especially after a 150 year history of Indian Residential boarding schools where children suffered abuses, poor living conditions, and systematic erasure of their cultural identity.
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