Literacy Matters Vol. 23 Winter 2023

unfolds, the pink sunset in the background of each page gets brighter to show the length of Daisy and her dad’s drive. As you read, perhaps, you will think about your ever-changing hometown.

the illustrations, the fun story, and the lovable characters, all while they consider the question, what really makes a family whole?

I DreamOf PoPo Blackburne, Livia. (2021). Illus. by Kuo Julia. Unpaged. Roaring Book Press. 9781250249319 $18.99 (Primary) —Hailey Bowen If you are searching for an age-appropriate, beautifully illustrated, and bilingual emergent inclusive book, look no further. Livia Blackburne’s I Dream of

When Lola Visits Sterling, Michelle. (2021). Illus. By Aaron Asis.Unpaged. Katherine Teegen Books. 978-0062972859. $17.99 (Primary) -- Sarah Katherine Coker Have you ever thought about what Summer smells, tastes, and feels like? For one young girl, the smells, tastes, and feelings all relate to her Lola. Sterling’s bookWhen Lola Visits tells the story of Lola’s

PoPo tells the heartwarming story of a little girl who leaves her Taiwanese hometown and moves to a new school across the world in San Diego. This story is told in a unique way as the little girl recalls missing her grandma, PoPo, and how things have shifted since her moving to America. PoPo would make the perfect book for not only emergent bilingual students of Taiwanese descent but for all students as they may relate to the feelings that the little girl faces as she emerges into a new culture. A common struggle immigrant students face comes from the shift in identity one may go through. The little girl has difficulty understanding why things are not quite the same when she returns to Taiwan to visit her PoPo. Similarly, an emerging language learner or immigrant may undergo the same struggles while merging multiple cultures. I Dream of PoPo can serve as a venue for conversations with students and help eliminate some of the anxieties associated with moving. In addition to the wonderful storytelling, the illustrations done by Julia Kuo tell a narrative of their own through their vibrant and carefully thought-out details. All young readers can enjoy the story through these bold illustrations. This book would make a wonderful addition to any classroom library!

Literacy Matters Feature Article

annual summer visit with her granddaughter and her return to the Philippines. During the visit, Lola and her granddaughter bake cassava cake, tell stories, take swimming lessons, and celebrate the 4th of July and Kamayan, a traditional Filipino feast. For the young girl, “summer smells like stuffed milkfish and brown-sugar bananas grilling on a balmy evening.” Lola participates in many traditions from the Philippines while staying with her family, such as baking cassava cake, celebrating Kamayan, cooking stuffed milkfish, and singing in Tagalog and Ilocano. When Lola Visits can elicit conversation with students about their traditions and our similarities and differences. The illustrations focus on Lola and her granddaughter’s experiences together and add to the written narrative. Through the illustrations, the reader discovers the special gift Lola sends her granddaughter once she is back home in the Philippines. This story encourages the reader to notice the different smells, tastes, and feelings of the special moments you share with your loved ones. Next time you have a special moment, take a minute to observe the smells, tastes, and feelings around you.

My Papi Has A Motorcycle Quintero, Isabel. (2019). Illus. by Zeke Peña. Unpaged. Penguin Young Readers Group. 9780525553410. $17.99 —Lauren Zalud Have you ever gone back to your hometown to reminisce but noticed that

Eyes That Kiss in The Corners Ho, Joanna. (2021). Illus. by Dung Ho. Unpaged. HarperCollins. 978-0062915627. $14.00 (Primary). —Ashley Berry What stories do your eyes tell? Do they shine like a sunny day? Is their shape round or more narrow? In Joanna Ho’s book Eyes that Kiss in the Corners, a young, unnamed Asian girl realizes that her eyes

places and people are starting to change? Quintero’s My Papi Has a Motorcycle shares the story of Daisy Ramona. Daisy shares a love letter to her dad and town that unfolds through their motorcycle ride. “Papi revs the engine, and the smell of gasoline hits me as he squeezes the accelerator.”While driving through her town, she notices it starts to change. Some places are out of business, and new buildings are appearing. As Daisy and Papi drive through town and see the changes, she says, “No matter how far I go from this place or howmuch it changes, this city will always be with me.”Daisy is on a journey to find peace in her ever-changing community. On each page, you will find vivid illustrations with comic-like elements emphasizing emotions and sounds from the characters and events. There is a stark contrast from illustration to illustration. The illustrator, Zeke Peña, uses bright and warm colors to symbolize familiarity and dull and cool colors to symbolize unfamiliarity. As the story

“kiss in the corners and glow like warm tea,”unlike her peers, whose eyes are like “sapphire lagoons with lashes like lace trim on ballgowns.”The young girl travels down a path of acceptance as she navigates the world and realizes that her mother, little sister, and Alma, her grandmother, share her eyes. Though the eyes of each of these women look similar, they tell different stories. The power of family and empowerment draws readers into a heartwarming story enhanced by the whimsical illustrations of Dung Ho. The abstract brush strokes paint convey aspects of Eastern Asian culture and fill each page with beauty. Through these illustrations, readers see the young girl’s evolution and recognition of her beauty. Readers will surely enjoy this story of self-acceptance.

Literacy Matters | Volume 22 • Winter 2023 | 21 | 2

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