When Lola Visits
by Michelle Sterling (Author) Aaron Asis (Illustrator)
In an evocative picture book brimming with the scents, tastes, and traditions that define a young girl's summer with her grandmother, debut author Michelle Sterling and illustrator Aaron Asis come together to celebrate the gentle bonds of familial love that span oceans and generations.
For one young girl, summer is the season of no school, of days spent at the pool, and of picking golden limes off the trees. But summer doesn't start until her lola--her grandmother from the Philippines--comes for her annual visit.
Summer is special. For her lola fills the house with the aroma of mango jam, funny stories of baking mishaps, and her quiet sweet singing in Tagalog. And in turn, her granddaughter brings Lola to the beach, to view fireworks at the park, and to catch fish at their lake.
When Lola visits, the whole family gathers to cook and eat and share in their happiness of another season spent together. Yet as summer transitions to fall, her lola must return home--but not without a surprise for her granddaughter to preserve their special summer a bit longer.
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Kirkus
An extraordinary expression of Filipino culture and intergenerational familial bonds.
Publishers Weekly
"How do I know summer is here?" asks a brown-skinned girl as she awaits her grandmother's arrival from the Philippines. From the minute Lola arrives, clad in red spectacles and a light green pangbahay dress, her granddaughter's world teems with the smells and tastes of Filipino food ("It smells like suman steaming on the stove for afternoon merienda and tiny red chilies spilling into sizzling sisig") and intimate familial moments ("rolling hundreds of lumpia"). In turn, the narrating child shares quiet self-achievements ("blue silence when I'm finally able to float by myself for the first time ever") and seasonal activities from her American home, such as harvesting limes and picnicking under Fourth of July fireworks. Asis's (Soaring Saturdays) unlined illustrations in earthy hues and vibrant greens lend the tale a bright, summery feel. Debut author Sterling blends Filipino traditions with popular U.S. summer activities, creating a tender story celebrating culture shared between generations. Ages 4-8. Author's agent: Andrea Morrison, Writers House. (May.)
Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
JUV009050 - Juvenile Fiction | Concepts | Senses & Sensation
JUV011020 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | United States - Asian American
JUV050000 - Juvenile Fiction | Cooking & Food
