Staff Pick
I am a child of immigrants and this story hits really close to home. My grandmother and I had a language barrier as well, but shared a love for picture books. As an artist, I love that the boy and his grandfather draw pictures together to form a special bond all their own. A very beautiful story. Recommended By Rose H., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
When a young boy visits his grandfather, their lack of a common language leads to confusion, frustration, and silence. But as they sit down to draw together, something magical happens — with a shared love of art and storytelling, the two form a bond that goes beyond words.
With spare, direct text by Minh L and luminous illustrations by Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat, this stirring picturebook about reaching across barriers will be cherished for years to come.
Review
"[P]erfectly paced to express universal emotions that connect generations separated by time, experience, and even language." School Library Journal (Starred Review)
Review
"Focus on an underrepresented culture; highly accessible emotions; concise, strong storytelling; and artistic magnificence make this a must have." Booklist (Starred Review)
About the Author
Minh Le is a writer but, like his grandfather, is a man of few words. He is a national early childhood policy expert, author of Let Me Finish! (illustrated by Isabel Roxas), and has written for the New York Times, the Horn Book, and the Huffington Post. A first-generation Vietnamese-American, he went to Dartmouth College and has a master's in education from Harvard University. Outside of spending time with his beautiful wife and sons in their home near Washington, DC, Minh's favorite place to be is in the middle of a good book.
Dan Santat is the author and illustrator of the Caldecott Award-winning The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend, as well as The Cookie Fiasco, After the Fall, and others. He is also the creator of Disney's animated hit, The Replacements. Dan lives in Southern California with his wife, two kids, and a menagerie of pets.