Review by Booklist Review
A little girl is feeling gray on a rainy day in New York City. Her family has recently moved from China, and she misses her old home. Her mom takes her on a long subway ride to New York's Chinatown, where they go on a shopping adventure for dinner because tonight is the only night during the week when everyone will be home. They shop for foods from around the world, but especially those that remind them of their old country, and bring them home to Dad, who works his "kitchen kung fu" to create delicious dishes for the entire family. Inspired by author and illustrator Zhuang's experiences as a first-generation Chinese American, the book is a caring story seen through the perspective of an immigrant family. Zhuang's artwork displays Chinatown's vibrant colors and culinary diversity in a loose drawing style expressive enough that readers can almost taste the sweet persimmons and bitter melon. This engaging picture book is perfect for storytimes centered on family traditions or the comfort of familiar food.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Zhuang's solo debut follows a child who has recently emigrated from China traveling from a muted New York City neighborhood where "I feel gray as a pigeon" to a bustling Chinatown where there's much to observe. Candid narration and expressive drawings depict the child's family life--"Mom is always sewing at the factory. Dad is always delivering food for a restaurant. Grandma is always nannying in a big house." One day, though, the protagonist is pulled out of bed like "a giant turnip" by Mom; since everyone will be home for dinner, they take a train to Chinatown for ingredients. Once there, the subdued landscape gives way to vivid hues as the two shop amid a kaleidoscope of fruits, vegetables, seafood, and sweets. Colored pencil, crayon, and watercolor applied in a personal sketchbook style communicate the feel of New York City sights and sounds, transporting the protagonist into rainbow dreams and making the stylized city illustrations feel achingly real. Ages 4--8. (Mar.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 2--4--On a rainy day, a young Chinese girl accompanies her mother on a shopping trip in New York City. They wander Chinatown and purchase food, candy, and other goods. After riding home on the subway, the young girl has dinner with her mom, dad, and grandma, who lives with the family. Grandma shares stories of her mother, prompting our protagonist to ponder her family history. Based on the author's lived experience as a first-generation Chinese American, the sometimes text heavy story touches on themes that will resonate with many readers--exploration, immigration, family, childhood. Much like the busy streets of Chinatown, there is a lot to take in: shopping trip, subway, stories, family history. The vibrant illustrations convey the hustle and bustle of the city, where there is always something intriguing to look at. Colored pencils and watercolors are used to create crowded city streets and markets. Vegetables and traditional Chinese treats are lovingly rendered, as are random New Yorkers on the scene, from a man in green Crocs to another with a small Labradoodle in a baby carrier. VERDICT A celebration of family, heritage, and home, this book is a worthy addition to any collection.--Chance Lee Joyner
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Review by Horn Book Review
A young girl's family has recently moved from China to New York City, where things become very different for her. Everyone is busy: Mom is always working at the factory, Dad is out delivering food, and Grandma is nannying for another family. One rainy Saturday, when the girl feels "as gray as a pigeon," Mom takes her to Chinatown to buy ingredients for their long-awaited family dinner. Together, they shop through "rows of vegetables in a hundred greens," fruits "piled up like jewels inside a treasure chest," and "aisles of noodles, sauces, spices, pickles, and tea." When they get home, Dad shows off his "kitchen kung fu" and cooks a savory meal that everyone enjoys. The story ends as the girl goes to sleep, feeling relaxed and comforted. Zhuang's accessible text touches on common themes of the immigrant experience, and her colored-pencil, crayon, and watercolor illustrations provide a visual representation of feelings of disconnection, disorientation, joy, and warmth. Inspired by the author's own childhood experiences, the story beautifully reflects how it feels to relocate to a completely different country and still try to feel at home. Weileen WangJanuary/February 2023 p.75 (c) Copyright 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 gray day is brightened by the colors of a Chinatown shopping trip. The only child of a family that has recently emigrated from China to New York City laments that Mom, Dad, and Grandma are always busy working now. But the promise of a family dinner immediately makes the day better. After a long subway ride, Mom and the narrator arrive in Chinatown to pick out the freshest herbs, fruits, and vegetables, fill a bag with black mushrooms, and select a fish, all in vibrant hues. They can't find everything they want, but back at home, Dad works his "kitchen kung fu," and soon the table is filled with dishes that are delicious though different from how they would be made in China. After a snuggly evening of family stories, the child dreams that they all "walk together in rainbow rain." Watercolor textures and comforting colors transform an everyday activity into a joyful adventure. The diversity of Chinatown is depicted with signs in English and Chinese and small, specific setting details. The endpapers are a delightful, collagelike representation of the day's shopping but also past and present influences in the child's life. While the concept of "rainbow shopping" doesn't quite come together, the simple narrative sparkles with gentle humor and reassuring imagery. This day-in-the-life story is a celebration of food as connection, comfort, and inspiration and a way to honor our heritage as we walk into the future. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A culturally specific ode to the cozy deliciousness of food and family. (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
