My Day with Gong Gong
Description
A day in Chinatown takes an unexpected turn when a bored little girl makes a connection with her grandpa.
May isn't having fun on her trip through Chinatown with her grandfather. Gong Gong doesn't speak much English, and May can't understand Chinese. She's hungry, and bored with Gong Gong's errands. Plus, it seems like Gong Gong's friends are making fun of her! But just when May can鈥檛 take any more, Gong Gong surprises her with a gift that reveals he鈥檚 been paying more attention than she thought.
With lighthearted, expressive illustrations by Elaine Chen, this charming debut expertly captures life in the city and shows how small, shared moments of patience and care鈥攁nd a dumpling or two鈥攃an help a child and grandparent bridge the generational and cultural gaps between them.
A glossary at the end of the book features translations of the Chinese words from the story into Chinese characters and English.
*A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
Awards
- Joint winner, Kirkus Best Books List 2020
- Nominated, Blue Spruce Award, OLA 2021
- Joint winner, Best Books of 2020, CBC 2020
- Joint winner, Best Books for Kids & Teens, Canadian Children鈥檚 Book Centre 2021
Reviews
鈥淵ee captures intergenerational love and understanding.鈥�
- Butler Children鈥檚 Literature Center, 06/05/20
鈥淎n excellent conversation starter and teaching tool for young children growing up in multi-generational families. Highly Recommended.鈥�
- CM Reviews, 06/12/20
鈥淭hrough adorable illustrations effused with humor and warmth, this portrait of intergenerational affection is also a tribute to life in Chinatown neighborhoods . . . A multilayered, endearing treasure of a day.鈥�
- Kirkus Reviews, *starred review, 06/06/20
鈥淔eaturing a winsome pair, this is a wonderful, sympathetic story, and the bonus is a small glossary of Cantonese words.鈥�
- School Library Journal, 08/20
鈥淎 gentle, resonant portrayal of the way love can overcome language barriers.鈥�
- Publishers Weekly, *starred review, 08/19/20
鈥淭imely and touching.鈥�
- Hidden World Books, 09/08/20
鈥淭his is a love story between generations.鈥�
- Sal鈥檚 Fiction Addiction, 09/09/20
鈥淭he empathetic situation, escalating story/tension, and appealing illustrations combine to capture universal emotions and situations.鈥�
- Unpacking the Power of Picture Books, 09/24/20
鈥淐hen鈥檚 watercolor and colored pencil illustrations beam with benevolence from the get-go.鈥�
- The Bulletin of the Center for Children鈥檚 Books, 11/20
鈥淵ee writes the story in simple, accessible language that鈥檚 nonetheless musical and fun to say out loud, allowing readers and listeners a chance to explore the sounds and shapes of different words, and the way they fit together like notes in a song.鈥�
- Quill & Quire, 10/15/20
鈥淵ee writes the story in simple, accessible language that鈥檚 nonetheless musical and fun to say out loud, allowing readers and listeners a chance to explore the sounds and shapes of different words, and the way they fit together like notes in a song.鈥�
- Quill & Quire, 10/15/20
鈥淎n uplifting story about how patience and kindness can encourage the coming together of diverse generations and cultures.鈥�
- Canadian Children鈥檚 Book News, Fall/20