My Grandfather's Song

K-Gr 2--In a moving story paired with lush illustrations, Tí travels with Grandfather to a strange new home, where the flora and fauna seem to loom over him, watching his every move. Grandfather eases Tí's nerves by teaching him how to build on the knowledge of the people that came before them to commune with the land--the "song" of the title--and become confident in his role there. The married team behind this picture book, inspired by the mythology of their home, Vietnam, develop a visually rich story that is both a tribute to the past and a call to protect the natural world of the near future. The stunning landscapes on each page are fantastical and immersive: giant monkeys, tigers, and turtles loom in the jungle, while a dragon's face is just barely visible in the dark, swirling clouds of a storm. Readers will feel the windswept grass tickle their feet and hear the ocean waves crash under Grandfather's boat. VERDICT Fans of Aaron Becker and David Wiesner will be drawn to this beautiful, surreal tale about learning how to have a respectful relationship with nature, thanks to the wisdom and efforts of one's ancestors.--Alexandra Quay

The married creators of My First Day follow their debut, per an authors' note, with a story created "in tribute to the very first pioneers to the south of Vietnam." In a lush jungle navigated by boat, Grandfather understands nature not as adversary but through metaphors of harmony and accompaniment. "This is music, and we must learn the song," Grandfather tells narrating child Ti. Crisp-edged, brilliantly colored spreads focus on broad skies as Grandfather builds a home and begins to cultivate rice. Large animals worked into the art--a tiger, a turtle--personify the landscape's power, as well as a way to approach it ("Make the song a shell and wrap it around you, hard as a turtle"). The elder's gentle hand is always there, guiding Ti until the child learns to see nature as Grandfather does, as "an instrument that, with time, gives us rice, fresh water to drink, a harmony of plenty." It's a vivid testament to working with, instead of against, the natural world. Ages 4-8. (Oct.)

This gentle story of family and living alongside nature is a shoo-in for an eco-themed storytime, but it's equally suited to celebrating kids' relationships with their grandparents. —The Bulletin

Satisfying and thoughtful....gently suggests the potential benefits humans may reap in rethinking our relationship to the earth, to the climate, to the world." —Shelf Awareness