A Morning with Grandpa

by Sylvia Liu, Christina Forshay (Illustrator)

Overview

In this sweet, slice-of-life story, a curious and active Asian American girl spends the day learning tai chi from her grandfather, and in turn tries to teach him how to do yoga.

Mei Mei's grandpa is practicing tai chi in the garden, and Mei Mei is eager to join in. As Gong Gong tries to teach her the slow, graceful movements, Mei Mei enthusiastically does them with her own flair. Then Mei Mei takes a turn, trying to teach Gong Gong the yoga positions she learned in school. Will Gong Gong be able to master the stretchy, bendy poses?

Winner of Lee & Low's New Voices Award, A Morning with Grandpa celebrates, with lively spirit and humor, the special bond between grandparent and grandchild and the joy of learning new things together. Readers of all ages will want to try some tai chi and yoga too!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781643794228
Publisher:	Lee & Low Books
Publication date:	04/21/2020
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.30(w) x 10.50(h) x 0.20(d)
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

Sylvia Liu was inspired to write this story by the playful and loving relationship between her children and their Gong Gong. Before devoting herself to writing and illustrating children’s books, she worked as an environmental lawyer at the US Department of Justice and the nonprofit group Oceana. She lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia, with her husband and their two daughters. This is Sylvia’s debut picture book.

Christina Forshay is a Mexican American illustrator known for her colorful images and joyous style. Born and raised in sunny California, she was inspired to become an illustrator by her many visits to Disneyland and by watching hours of cartoons as a child. When she's not drawing or painting in her studio, she can likely be found cheering on her kids at their many soccer matches. You can see more of her work at christinaforshay.com.

Editorial Reviews

"A fine example of contemporary multicultural literature." — Kirkus Reviews

"This playful and unique story combines tai chi and yoga as Mei Mei and her grandpa Gong Gong show the merits and techniques of each." — Booklist

"This selection stands out from other yoga picture books for its introduction to tai chi and will circulate well in collections where there is an interest in movement, health, and fitness activities." — School Library Journal

CCBC Choices - Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
New Voices Award Winner - Lee & Low Books

From the Publisher

11/23/2015
In a charming outing from newcomer Liu, which won the publisher’s 2013 New Voices Award, a girl named Mei Mei gets a backyard tai chi lesson from her grandfather. Gong Gong’s movements are graceful and calm, but Mei Mei has a more raucous approach: during the “Play the Lute” pose, Gong Gong is “a musician serenading the sunflowers. Mei Mei a rock star playing guitar for the daisies.” Then Mei Mei steps into the teaching role, walking Gong Gong through a few yoga poses. Forshay’s polished digital art lends both characters distinctive and contrasting personalities. Closing instructions highlight the tai chi and yoga poses discussed, but the book’s sweetness stems from the thoughtful gentleness with which Gong Gong guides Mei Mei, never restraining her natural exuberance. Ages 5–8. Illustrator’s agent: Kelly Sonnack, Andrea Brown Literary Agency. (May)

Publishers Weekly

06/01/2016
PreS-Gr 2—A bright and cheery girl and her grandfather spend a morning teaching each other tai chi and yoga in this sweet, intergenerational picture book. Mei Mei, an adorable girl with pigtails and flair, is curious about the slow dancing that Gong Gong does. She is determined to replicate his actions but instead bursts with energy, creating her own bouncing movements. Mei Mei decides to teach Gong Gong the yoga poses that she learned in school, but his elderly body cannot twist and turn as agilely as hers. In the end, they each assure the other that their movements are "perfect," sending a sweet message that it is the process and the practice that are important. Digitally rendered illustrations place Mei Mei and Gong Gong in a lush backyard garden filled with sunflowers, red maple leaves, and dragonflies. While the background images are repetitive, the focus of the illustrations is on the intergenerational pair. Mei Mei's face expresses a full range of emotions, while Gong Gong's is somewhat one-note. The text is brimming with similes and metaphors describing their movements, and the words follow the actions, with the letters in words such as arched and stretched curving and bending on the page. Descriptions of the movements do not overwhelm the story, and a full set of instructions for the poses, as well as discussions of the practices, are included as back matter. VERDICT This selection stands out from other yoga picture books for its introduction to tai chi and will circulate well in collections where there is an interest in movement, health, and fitness activities.—Clara Hendricks, Cambridge Public Library, MA

School Library Journal

2016-03-02
Debut author Liu scores with a sweet story about the joys of intergenerational relationships. Some children bake cookies with their grandpas. Others play chess with their grandmas. Mei Mei and her grandfather, Gong Gong, find a special way to connect. "Tai chi is a martial art that sends good energy through your body," explains Gong Gong. "Martial art!…I can do karate. HI-YAH!" replies Mei Mei. As Gong Gong demonstrates his graceful tai chi moves, Mei Mei interprets them using her own style and tempo. "Gong Gong conducted a quiet symphony. Mei Mei drummed the earth with hands and feet." Next, Mei Mei teaches Gong Gong some yoga moves. Mei Mei sits elegantly like a mermaid "with one leg bent behind her and the other leg folded in front….a creature of the deep sea guarding treasures." Gong Gong on the other hand, "twisted his leg this way and that and almost fell over. He was a fish in the water trying to escape a dangling hook." Together, Liu's lively text and Forshay's playful illustrations effectively capture a true-to-life relationship that transcends cultures and generations. Vibrant colors, dynamic scenes, and bubbly expressions—cross-eyed Mei Mei sucking in her cheeks is a winner!—all add to the giggles. The love between the two shines through in both text and illustrations. The illustrated guide to tai chi and yoga poses that follows the story is a pleasing touch. A fine example of contemporary multicultural literature. (glossary, sources) (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews