Sunday, May 7, 2023

Amah Faraway by Margaret Chiu Greanias illustrated by Tracy Subisak - ESSENTIAL

Amah Faraway
by Margaret Chiu Greanias illustrated by Tracy Subisak
. PICTURE BOOK Bloomsbury Childrens. 2022. $19. 9781547607211

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Kylie is an American Taiwanese child visiting her Amah (grandmother) with her mother in Taiwan. They do not visit often in person but visit over the computer, not quite the same as in person. Amah is far away from Kylie’s home in San Francisco. Kylie is jittery and hangs back, unsure how to act in such strange surroundings, with strange foods, language, people, culture, and places. Amah takes Kylie all over Taipei, showing her what she loves and how beautiful it is. And Kylie still hangs back, unsure. One day, they visit the hot springs and this day changes everything for Kylie’s visit to Taipei.

Greanias depicts a child’s shyness, hesitancy, and fear of being in a new place with new foods, language, culture, and people very well. Kylie is afraid at first, always hanging back and unsure, then Greanias changes the structure of the story and contrasts how Kylies feels after the trip to the hot springs where Kylie finally becomes sure of herself being with her Amah. Subisak’s illustrations are beautifully done in Japanese watercolor and ink. The faces of Amah and Kylie are detailed and realistic, engaging the reader as the first page is opened. The Author’s and Illustrator's Notes at the end are enlightening and informative. Also included are interesting facts about Taipei, if you were to visit. The illustrations on the front pages and back pages depict Taiwanese written language, foods, and culture. A must-have for elementary school libraries, especially those with refugee populations.
The characters are American Taiwanese and Taiwanese individuals. 

Deanna M. - Elementary Media Tech

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