My Day with Gong Gong
Description
A day in Chinatown takes an unexpected turn when a bored little girl makes a connection with her grandpa.
May isn't having fun on her trip through Chinatown with her grandfather. Gong Gong doesn't speak much English, and May can't understand Chinese. She's hungry, and bored with Gong Gong's errands. Plus, it seems like Gong Gong's friends are making fun of her! But just when May can’t take any more, Gong Gong surprises her with a gift that reveals he’s been paying more attention than she thought.
With lighthearted, expressive illustrations by Elaine Chen, this charming debut expertly captures life in the city and shows how small, shared moments of patience and care—and a dumpling or two—can help a child and grandparent bridge the generational and cultural gaps between them.
A glossary at the end of the book features translations of the Chinese words from the story into Chinese characters and English.
*A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
Awards
- Joint winner, Kirkus Best Books List 2020
- Nominated, Blue Spruce Award, OLA 2021
- Joint winner, Best Books of 2020, CBC 2020
- Joint winner, Best Books for Kids & Teens, Canadian Children’s Book Centre 2021
Reviews
“Yee captures intergenerational love and understanding.”
- Butler Children’s Literature Center, 06/05/20
“An excellent conversation starter and teaching tool for young children growing up in multi-generational families. Highly Recommended.”
- CM Reviews, 06/12/20
“Through adorable illustrations effused with humor and warmth, this portrait of intergenerational affection is also a tribute to life in Chinatown neighborhoods . . . A multilayered, endearing treasure of a day.”
- Kirkus Reviews, *starred review, 06/06/20
“Featuring a winsome pair, this is a wonderful, sympathetic story, and the bonus is a small glossary of Cantonese words.”
- School Library Journal, 08/20
“A gentle, resonant portrayal of the way love can overcome language barriers.”
- Publishers Weekly, *starred review, 08/19/20
“Timely and touching.”
- Hidden World Books, 09/08/20
“This is a love story between generations.”
- Sal’s Fiction Addiction, 09/09/20
“The empathetic situation, escalating story/tension, and appealing illustrations combine to capture universal emotions and situations.”
- Unpacking the Power of Picture Books, 09/24/20
“Chen’s watercolor and colored pencil illustrations beam with benevolence from the get-go.”
- The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, 11/20
“Yee writes the story in simple, accessible language that’s nonetheless musical and fun to say out loud, allowing readers and listeners a chance to explore the sounds and shapes of different words, and the way they fit together like notes in a song.”
- Quill & Quire, 10/15/20
“Yee writes the story in simple, accessible language that’s nonetheless musical and fun to say out loud, allowing readers and listeners a chance to explore the sounds and shapes of different words, and the way they fit together like notes in a song.”
- Quill & Quire, 10/15/20
“An uplifting story about how patience and kindness can encourage the coming together of diverse generations and cultures.”
- Canadian Children’s Book News, Fall/20