The words we share

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Title:

The words we share

Author:

Wong, Jack, 1985- author, illustrator.

ISBN:

9781773217970

Physical Description:

1 volume (unpaged) : colour illustrations ; 29 cm

Subject Term:

Chinese -- Canada -- Fiction.

Emigration and immigration -- Fiction.

Fathers and daughters -- Fiction.

Families -- Fiction.

Chinese language materials -- Bilingual.

Parent and child -- Fiction.

Picture books.

Communication -- Fiction.

Geographic Term:

Canada -- Fiction.

Genre:

Picture books.

Summary:

"A young girl helps her dad navigate life in a new country where she understands the language more than he does, in an unforgettable story about communication and community. Angie is used to helping her dad. Ever since they moved to Canada, he relies on her to translate for him from English to Chinese. Angie is happy to help: when they go to restaurants, at the grocery store, and, one day, when her dad needs help writing some signs for his work. Building off her success with her dad's signs, Angie offers her translation skills to others in their community. She's thrilled when her new business takes off, until one of her clients says he's unhappy with her work. When her dad offers to help, she can't imagine how he could. Working together, they find a surprising solution, fixing the problem in a way Angie never would have predicted. A gorgeously illustrated picture book from up-and-coming author-illustrator Jack Wong (When You Can Swim, Scholastic) that is at once a much-needed exploration of the unique pressures children of immigrants often face, a meditation on the dignity of all people regardless of their differences, and a reminder of the power of empathy."--

Language Note:

IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE.

Holds:

Available:*

Library	Call Number	Status
Searching... Hardwood Creek Library (Forest Lake)	PICTURE BOOK WON	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Park Grove Library (Cottage Grove)	PICTURE BOOK WON	Searching... Unknown
Searching... R.H. Stafford Library (Woodbury)	PICTURE BOOK WON	Searching... Unknown

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

"A must-buy." --School Library Journal

A young girl helps her dad navigate life in a new country where she understands the language more than he does, in an unforgettable story about communication and community by Boston Globe-Horn Book Award-winner Jack Wong.

Angie is used to helping her dad. Ever since they moved to Canada, he relies on her to translate for him from English to Chinese. Angie is happy to help: when they go to restaurants, at the grocery store, and, one day, when her dad needs help writing some signs for his work.

Building off her success with her dad's signs, Angie offers her translation skills to others in their community. She's thrilled when her new business takes off, until one of her clients says he's unhappy with her work. When her dad offers to help, she can't imagine how he could. Working together, they find a surprising solution, fixing the problem in a way Angie never would have predicted.

A gorgeously illustrated picture book from Boston Globe-Horn Book and Governor General award-winning creator Jack Wong (When You Can Swim, Scholastic) that is at once a much-needed exploration of the unique pressures children of immigrants often face, a meditation on the dignity of all people regardless of their differences, and a reminder of the power of empathy.

"Beautifully written and illustrated. . . . I am so glad this book exists in the world." --Bao Phi, author of the Caldecott Honor and Zolotow Award-winning A Different Pond

Author Notes

JACK WONG is based in Kjipuktuk/Halifax, Nova Scotia. Born in Hong Kong and raised in Vancouver, Jack creates stories indelibly marked by a first-generation Asian Canadian experience.

Reviews (2)

Horn Book Review

In this heartfelt tale, young Angie becomes a vital bridge between her Cantonese-speaking dad and their new home in Canada. She frequently aids her father in navigating various situations, such as ordering meals and crafting signs for his janitorial job. Soon, Angie identifies a business opportunity -- creating English signs for the Chinese-speaking business owners in their neighborhood. Her initial projects include a sandwich board for Ms. Fong's canteen and a stern warning sign for the recalcitrant customers of Ms. Lim's shoe-repair shop. However, a hurdle arises when the laundromat owner, Mr. Chu, voices dissatisfaction with Angie's work. This hiccup morphs into a golden moment, as her father speaks with Mr. Chu in his language (Hakka), unveiling linguistic knowledge that surprises Angie and strengthens their bond. This narrative gracefully illustrates the ties that bind a community and positions language as a potent tool that can both separate and unify people, transforming potential misunderstandings into opportunities for growth, collaboration, and even humor. The story is brought to life with cartoon-style art and bilingual dialogues, represented through simplified Chinese characters and italicized English, offering readers a rich, multicultural experience. This tale presents a hopeful perspective on immigrant life, vividly portraying resilience, a spirit of community, and the enduring bond of family, making it a poignant and uplifting read. An author's note explains the story's linguistic context, highlighting the presence of different Chinese languages with some linguistic similarities. Weileen WangNovember/December 2023 p.74 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus Review

Angie uses her English skills to help her dad and other Chinese immigrants in their neighborhood. When Angie and her dad arrived in Canada, they knew very little English. But now that Angie has been going to school, she is able to help Dad, who still speaks only Cantonese, talk to strangers, read menus and labels, and even create signs for the office building where he works as a janitor ("Please do not carry your coffee up and down the stairs," "Please don't leave food to rot in the fridge"). This ability inspires her to start a sign-making business for the Chinese-owned shops in the neighborhood. But when the owner of the laundromat complains that the instructions she wrote for the machines are wrong, it's her dad's turn to use his language skills to help Angie. Cartoon-style art in natural colors and fine detail offers an expressive and compassionate glimpse into the struggles immigrants face but most clearly shows the love between Angie and her father and their mutual respect for each other's skills. While Angie's first-person narration is in English, Cantonese speakers' dialogue is printed in Chinese as well as in italicized English, giving readers an authentic experience of what the conversations feel like. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A sweet story of immigrant connections. (author's note) (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Available:*

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

Summary

Author Notes

Reviews (2)

Horn Book Review

Kirkus Review

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