Review by Booklist Review
Ten young children gather in a classroom for supervised play while their immigrant parents attend the ESL class next door. Since the children speak different languages, each is playing alone. But Luli, a Chinese American girl, has a plan. After unpacking a teapot, teacups, and tea leaves, she makes tea. When she calls out "Chá," the children respond in their own languages (Russian, Hindi, Persian, Turkish, Arabic, Spanish, German, Swahili, and Portuguese) with their words for tea, which are amazingly similar to hers. Gathering at a circular table, they pass around cups of tea. Now Luli brings out a box and uses her new favorite English word, "Cookie?" Watching the children engage with one another, "Luli's heart is full." The author of Watercress (2021), Wang writes a simple, precise narrative that is more than the sum of its parts. Few writers could conjure up the characters' contentment as concisely as this: "Hands curled around warm cups. Mouths curved into shy smiles." Yum's sensitive colored-pencil illustrations use clean lines, rounded shapes, and soft hues to depict the setting and reveal the characters' emotions. The back matter introduces the 10 children, their countries of origin, and the place of tea in their cultures. A rewarding read-aloud choice.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Wang (Watercress) brings a group of children together via a beloved beverage in this warming picture book. After noticing the students in her ESL class all playing alone, young Luli draws a picture of the group sitting together, then makes her plan a reality during the next class session. After setting up "a thermos, a canister, stacks of cups, and a fat bellied teapot" on a classroom table, Luli prepares hot tea, then beckons her fellow classmates in Chinese: "Chá!" One by one, the students respond in their own languages--Arabic, German, Hindi, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swahili, and Turkish, with each response presented in the language's script alongside an English transliteration. Soon, the table is full. All fluent in the language of tea, the kids know exactly how to ensure that each person has a warm cup in their hands, then, as a group, enjoy Luli's new favorite English word. Yum's (Grandpa Across the Ocean) colored pencil illustrations portray dot-eyed children with a variety of skin tones and hair textures; a bird's-eye view emphasizes the community that accompanies sharing a cup of tea. Back matter includes an author's note and details about the history of tea drinking. Age 3--7. Author's agent: Erin Murphy, Erin Murphy Literary. Illustrator's agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (May)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 1--3--While parents and other adults attend ESL classes, Luli is in childcare next door. None of the children speak a common language and all play alone, but not for long because Luli has a plan. With her teacher's blessing, she brings in a thermos of hot water, a teapot, tea, and cups, then proceeds to make tea for her nine classmates (a teacher observes all of this, but the sight of small children pouring hot tea from one cup to another may need discussion at story hours). When she is done she calls to them in Chinese, "Cha!" Each child looks up in turn and replies with the word for tea in their own language including Russian, Hindi, Persian, Arabic, German, and Swahili. Despite the differences, the word is similar enough that they all understand and are soon passing cups of tea around the table, then portioning out the tea again so there is enough for Luli, who has cookies, too. All of this breaks the language barrier as the children laugh, eat, and play together. Wang's seamless text weaves the children's names, spoken language, and pronunciations into her story. Meanwhile Yum's illustrations give life and personality to the children with spot-on expressions and plenty of detail. Her dynamic perspectives not only give all the characters, who are depicted with various skin tones, a chance to stand out as individuals, but provide momentum to the story. An Author's Note explains Wang's inspiration and offers more world tea facts. VERDICT A delightful look at coming together despite differences that is centered on the immigrant experience of learning English. A great addition to all collections.--Catherine Callegari
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Review by Horn Book Review
While adults attend an ESL class, their children go to a playroom next door. The room is full but quiet; no one speaks the same language, and all the kids play separately. On a recent visit, young Luli had drawn a picture about an idea she had, and today her backpack holds a thermos, a teapot, a tea canister, and some teacups. As Miss Hirokane watches, Luli puts some tea leaves in the pot and pours in the "steaming hot" water, her tongue sticking out in careful concentration. She calls "cha!" (Chinese for tea), and everyone responds with their own words for tea (each word is spelled out and printed phonetically). All gather at the table, where Luli pours tea into cups that get passed around. When there isn't enough left for herself, the kids pass her empty cup around, each pouring in a little tea from their own. After tea it's time for cookies, and with that, "the playroom was no longer quiet." Tea drinking everywhere celebrates community and togetherness; Wang (Watercress, rev. 3/21) has cleverly re-created (and diversified) that ritual in a microcosm. Yum's (Saturday Is Swimming Day, rev. 7/18) overhead view of the table shows smiling faces and varied skin tones, and her illustrations make clear that the Asian teacups with no handles are perfect for small hands -- and safe (if it's cool enough to hold, it's cool enough to drink). An appended note describes tea drinking in the ten countries represented, including Iran, Kenya, and Chile, while teacups from each country decorate the endpapers. Jennifer M. Brabander July/August 2022 p.104(c) Copyright 2022. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A group of children find commonality and togetherness through tea. While a diverse group of grown-ups attend English as a second language class, young ones attend free child care next door. Like the adults, no one speaks English, and "all around the room, children played alone." However, Luli, who is cued as Chinese, has a plan to get everyone to play together. Today, she's brought a full tea set. When the table is set and Luli calls out in Chinese, "Chá," "all around the room, heads popped up." In a series of panels, children chime back in Russian, Hindi, Turkish, Persian, Arabic, Spanish, German, Swahili, and Portuguese. The word for tea sounds quite similar across languages, and soon enough each child grabs a seat at the table to share a warm cup of tea. Shy smiles lead to full hearts. Yum's colored-pencil illustrations work alongside Wang's simple, rhythmic text to highlight the concepts of uniqueness and similarity. Gentle, repeated refrains like "all around the room/table" and measured moments of tea cups passed back and forth create beats of unity and circularity. Languages are presented in their script with romanization/transliteration for pronunciation. Perspectives and layouts vary for a dynamic read and give space to each child and their individuality. Endpapers showcase teacup designs from the 10 countries highlighted; in an author's note, Wang describes the childhood experience that inspired the book. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A warming and gentle celebration of connection. (information on the countries depicted) (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
