Illustrated by Dung Ho
4 stars
A beautiful picture book about language, heritage, and the bond between a grandmother and grandchild. I love the way Felix and his grandmother connect across generations, languages, and cultures, sharing things they enjoy with each other.
Felix is so excited for his grandmother to come to America and meet him for the first time. They spend time together and learn from one another. But when they get separated at a festival, his grandmother can’t ask for help because no one around her understands Vietnamese. Felix takes it upon himself to make sure his grandmother doesn’t have to be scared again.
I love how Felix helped empower his grandmother by teaching her English. It was such a sweet moment and it was wonderful to see their relationship deepen.
As always, Ho’s artwork is beautiful. Wonderful, bright illustrations that bring Felix and his family to life.
At the start of the book is a glossary of Vietnamese terms with their pronunciations. There is also a recipe for Felix’s grandmother’s Vietnamese pizza (bánh tráng nướng) at the end.
A fantastic read. Pairs well with Minh Lê‘s Drawn Together.