An American Library Association Best Graphic Novel for Children, Booklist Editors' Choice Winner, Amazon Best Book of the Month, New York Public Library Best Book of the Year, Chicago Public Library Best Book of the Year, and Texas Library Association 2022 Little Maverick Pick
"A skillfully woven story of acceptance and forgiveness. These concepts aren’t easy to present to a young audience in an upbeat way, but Remy Lai succeeds: The dog provides both reliable comfort and comedic relief. . . This book is filled with masterly drawings of the furry kind." —New York Times Book Review
"It's tail-wagging entertaining!" —Kelly Yang, New York Times bestselling author of Front Desk
"A beautifully drawn and delightful story bursting with art, books, and fun!" —Maria Scrivan, New York Times bestselling author of Nat Enough and Forget Me Nat
* "Brightly colored, inviting artwork . . . This cute and charming story of missing family, making friends, and figuring out how to make amends is a fun treat, and the subplot about learning how to mend strife in a community adds meaningful depth." —Booklist, starred review
"Move over, Jeff Kinney . . . Lai’s finger is always precisely on the pulse of kid humor." —Horn Book
"Pawsitively charming." —Kirkus
"Lai tenderly crafts a tale of friendship, loss, and the risks involved in letting people in, encouraging readers to love deeply." —Publishers Weekly
"A page-turning delight, and a must for dog lovers." —School Library Journal
"Readers will delight in the ups and downs of Jo’s journey and fall for both her and her canine pal." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Lai’s candy-colored, cartoon-style illustrations are a delightful complement to this cute, clever romp. A gentle story of community, forgiveness and redemption." —BookPage
Praise for Fly on the Wall
A Best Book of the Year for Kirkus, Booklist, Chicago Public Library, and School Library Journal!
“Funny, enthralling, and a great reminder that being a little odd isn’t a bad thing.” —Kayla Miller, author of Click and Camp
"Bright, funny storytelling . . . in this sharp, sweet story there is much to connect with." —The New York Times Book Review
* "Near-misses and laugh-out-loud moments abound, which will endear it to readers who like 'Big Nate' and 'Wimpy Kid,' but Henry’s character development in this illustrated novel leaves Greg Heffley in the dust." —School Library Journal, starred review
* "Lai has a talent of not preaching to her readers, instead offering the reassurance that no one is alone in experiencing the painful awkwardness and occasionally harsh realities of growing up. . . This thrilling coming-of-age adventure is both quirky and sincere." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
* "Comics-style artwork gives the book Wimpy Kid flair . . . readers will fall in love with Henry. A smile-inducing crowd-pleaser." —Booklist, starred review
"I absolutely loved the storytelling . . . Add in the copious humor (did I mention it’s genuinely laugh-out-loud funny?) and remarkable cathartic journey and you’ve got yourself a winner." — Fuse #8
Praise for Pie in the Sky
Winner of the Sid Fleischman Award for Humor!
A Parents Magazine Best Kids Book of the Year!
A New York Public Library Best Book of the Year!
An NPR Best Book of the Year!
A Horn Book Best Book of the Year!
"Pie in the Sky is like enjoying a decadent cake. . . heartwarming and rib-tickling." —Terri Libenson, bestselling author of Invisible Emmie
* “Perfect for fans of Gene Luen Yang and Victoria Jamieson.” —Shelf Awareness, starred review
* "Like salted caramel, a perfect balance of flavors, this deftly drawn story is a heartfelt treat." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"Uproarious humor and a burgeoning friendship add to the ingredients in this stunning debut. . . a book to be savored – and the illustrations are the icing on the cake." —NPR
* "The humor [is] akin to that of Jeff Kinney’s popular “Wimpy Kid” series . . . the perfect mixture of funny and emotionally resonant." —School Library Journal, starred review
* "Lai imbues this [story] with an undeniable sweetness." —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review
* "A delectable page-turner. . . Heartbreakingly honest; in equal parts funny and poignant." —Horn Book, starred review
2021-03-13
Jo’s little lie of omission becomes a serendipitous opportunity for new friendships.
Already lonely on the first day of summer break, Jo Lin spots a dog walking alone while carrying a basket in its mouth. Intrigued by this scene, Jo follows the dog and is amazed when he visits different stores and is given items from a shopping list. At his last stop, Jo is recognized by some children taking an art class and mistakenly identified as the dog’s owner. Initially Jo tries to correct their mistake, but the promise of new friendship keeps her from telling the truth. She allows the art class to use the dog as their model, calling him Pawcasso. Pawcasso’s increasing notoriety as the shopping dog stirs up attention and prompts a divisive communitywide debate around dog leashing. With each passing day Jo struggles with being honest and potentially losing the new friendships she’s come to value. The bright colors and cartoonlike style reflect the lighthearted tone and whimsical elements of the story. Exaggerated facial expressions and dramatic eyes heighten the humor and add quirky charm. Pawcasso is drawn with warm, expressive features that give him an endearing quality. Details of their home life cue light-skinned, black-haired Jo and her family as Asian; her community is populated with a diverse mix of people.
Pawsitively charming. (ice cream recipe) (Graphic fiction. 8-12)
03/29/2021
Every Saturday morning, a dog with a silky light brown–spotted white coat, “toffee eyes,” and “a galaxy of freckles” carries a basket in his mouth and walks across town to shop at each business of the South Redhart Shopping Circle—all without an owner present. One morning, the canine crosses in front of 11-year-old Joanna “Jo” Lin’s window. Curious, Jo, an overall-wearing child with short dark hair, follows the pup on his errands, and is mistaken for his owner. Dubbing the dog Pawcasso, Jo who’s also navigating feelings about how her father’s overseas work keeps him away for long spans, agrees to bring the dog back for a weekly painting class at the town’s bookshop. But misunderstandings about being Pawcasso’s human pile up, and Jo is soon entangled as the town divides into two camps—the Picassos, who support Pawcasso traversing unleashed, and their naysayers, the Duchamps. In full-color art, rendered in sure strokes and a mellow palette, Lai (Pie in the Sky) tenderly crafts a tale of friendship, loss, and the risks involved in letting people in, encouraging readers to love deeply: “Sometimes we can’t help how we feel because the heart is like a puppy who does whatever it wants.” Ages 8–12. (May)
05/01/2021
Gr 3–6—The town of Redhart has a special citizen: the most adorable, polite pooch you've ever met. He's a canine who does his owner's shopping, without a leash or a human in tow. And when a lonely girl named Jo befriends this lovable hound, everyone assumes she's his owner. Not that Jo minds this mistake, but soon, one small fib has spun into a web of lies, and she even gives the dog a name: Pawcasso (the first name that springs to mind when he winds up a model for a children's art class). With Pawcasso's help, Jo learns to make friends, discover new hobbies, and even address the wound left by her father's frequent work trips. But what happens when Pawcasso's real owners discover what Jo's been up to? And what does all this have to do with irritable Mr. Iccc, the neighborhood's resident dog-hating crank? The story line is reminiscent of Kate DiCamillo's Because of Winn-Dixie, while the artwork recalls the goofy expressions of James Kochalka's comics. The culmination is a tale with bright, cheerful illustrations and an abundance of heart to match, as Jo grapples with resentment, forgiveness, and the power of community. This book might not be for every kid, though; its loftier themes might fly over the heads of some readers, while those more invested in Jo's journey may be put off by the occasional toilet humor. Jo is pale-skinned with short black hair, and her town is racially diverse. VERDICT A page-turning delight, and a must for dog lovers.—Matisse Mozer, Los Angeles P.L.