A Garden Called Home

In this tender familial narrative, a child works to make a garden in a snowy place whose climate differs from Mama's homeland. Though they've never visited it, the unnamed child narrator knows that "the summers there are hot and humid, and the winters are filled with warm rain." And, indeed, the air is "thick and heavy" when the two travel there to visit Mama's sister. The siblings share a long hug when reunited, and Mama, who becomes more talkative, takes long hikes with her child and reveals abundant knowledge of plants, animals, and the environment--names that the child repeats in Mandarin. Back at home in the snowy winter, Mama reverts to her reclusive self, prompting the child to learn--and teach--how "nature here can be wondrous too." Lee's lovable characters, portrayed with pale skin and dark hair, organically introduce the natural world into the story line, and Chen's digitally edited gouache illustrations depict the impact of getting to know its diversity. A glossary concludes. Ages 3-7. (Feb.)

Chen captures the beauty of both settings and the emotions of the main characters in a series of colorful, expressive gouache paintings. Lee writes with sensitivity for both the child and the mother. An encouraging picture book, particularly for other children of immigrants. —Booklist 

[A] delicately told and sensitive story that revolves around an evolving mother-daughter relationship through which it explores two complementary themes that pertain to the experience of immigration. —Canadian Review of Materials