  | Words between us Author: Krans, Angela Pham | |
| Price: $24.48 | ||
Summary:
Felix and Grandma have always lived oceans apart--until the day Grandma arrives. Felix is so excited to meet Grandma and spend time with her. Except she doesn't know English! One day, when Grandma gets lost and doesn't know how to ask for help, Felix decides to teach her English. And by working together and teaching each other, they just might learn to share words as well.
| Illustrator: | Ho, Dung |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (+) (10/15/23)
School Library Journal (+) (10/27/23)
Booklist (10/15/23)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 10/15/2023 When Felix's grandma moves from Vietnam to come live with her family, there is an instant connection despite the language barrier. Felix shows her around the city that will be her new home, and she shows him pictures of the village where she lived. They make music and care for the garden, all seemingly without much speaking. One day Felix and Grandma get separated at a crowded festival, and Grandma's inability to ask for help in English signals a very real disadvantage in her new environment. Felix decides to teach her, and in turn she teaches him Vietnamese. Words between Us is a tender, respectful depiction of a frequently occurring situation as older generations migrate to the U.S. The illustrations are colorful and add a sense of whimsy while capturing the strong, loving bond between Felix and Grandma. Their language lessons are depicted with speech bubbles so we can almost hear her pronunciation as she learns to say and make Felix's favorite food, peet suh! The recipe at the end is a bonus in this delightful story. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.
School Library Journal - 10/27/2023 PreS-Gr 3—This story of a Vietnamese American family and Grandma's immigration to the United States has all the right ingredients: beauty, warmth, and relatability. Felix meets Grandma for the first time when she moves from Vietnam to live with Felix and his family. He teaches her all sorts of things, like how to play the drums and care for his pet iguana. Grandma teaches Felix, too, like a song from her childhood and how to grow a vegetable garden. But when they get separated at a festival, Grandma realizes there is one more thing she'd like to learn: English. Krans's text feels down-to-earth and authentic, deftly conveying respect for Felix and Grandma as both learners and as experts in their different ways. Ho (Eyes that Kiss in the Corners) uses a palette of complementary yellows, blues, greens, and reds to show the joyful home of this Vietnamese American family. English/Vietnamese flashcards in hand-lettering with child-like crayon drawings are sprinkled throughout the pages and plaster the bookends. A recipe for "Vietnamese pizza" at the end gives readers the opportunity to learn right alongside Felix and Grandma. VERDICT Recommended for every collection, but especially those with immigrant populations.—Hillary Perelyubskiy - Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
