Amah Faraway

Description

A delightful story of a child's visit to a grandmother and home far away, and of how families connect and love across distance, language, and cultures. Kylie is nervous about visiting her grandmother--her Amah--who lives SO FAR AWAY. When she and Mama finally go to Taipei, Kylie is shy with Amah. Even though they have spent time together in video chats, those aren't the same as real life. And in Taiwan, Kylie is at first uncomfortable with the less-familiar customs, culture, and food. However, after she is invited by Amah to play and splash in the hot springs (which aren't that different from the pools at home), Kylie begins to see this place through her grandmother's eyes and sees a new side of the things that used to scare her. Soon, Kylie is leading her Amah back through all her favorite parts of this place and having SO MUCH FUN! And when it is time to go home, the video chats will be extra special until they can visit again.

Margaret Chiu Greanias is the author of Maximillian Villainous. The daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, she grew up in New York, Texas, and California, while her Amah lived far away in Taipei. This book was inspired by her childhood memories visiting her Amah-exploring night markets, splashing in hot springs, and connecting with relatives-and by her children experiencing Taiwan with their Amah for the first time. She currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, three children, and a fluffle of dust bunnies. Find her online at margaretgreanias.com. @MargaretGreania Tracy Subisak can't stop thinking about being back in Taipei, eating youtiao and doujiang (soy milk) with her Amah and Mama. Tracy is the daughter of a Taiwanese mother and Polish American father. She lived in Taipei for a bit as an adult and saw her Amah every week, ate delicious night-market snacks, and enjoyed every detail of beautiful Taiwan. She is the author-illustrator of Jenny Mei Is Sad, and has illustrated books including the award-winning Shawn Loves Sharks by Curtis Manley and Wood, Wire, Wings: Emma Lilian Todd Invents an Airplane by Kirsten Larson. Visit her online at tracysubisak.com. @tracysubisak

"A heartfelt homage to her Taiwanese heritage that binds multiple generations on either side of the globe. . . . Margaret Chiu Greanias and Tracy Subisak delightfully, inventively present a hesitant child's transformative reunion with her Taiwanese grandmother on the other side of the world." - Shelf Awareness, starred review "Subisak's watercolor, pencil, and ink illustrations lovingly show details from Taiwanese life and culture. Ranging from multiple vignettes per page to full spreads, they possess an almost cinematic storyboard quality while supporting the mirrored narrative symmetry that has the hot spring visit as its midpoint. . . . This is a poignantly emotional and highly relatable story for children whose grandparents or other family members might live far away, but also one that teaches universal lessons about overcoming fears of the unfamiliar." --School Library Journal, starred review "An au courant portrayal of a transnational childhood." --Kirkus Reviews "A sympathetic portrayal of long-distance family ties." --Booklist "Encouraging openness toward new experiences amid a centering of one child's diasporic shift in cultural perception, this contemporary tale tenderly spotlights the strengthening of an intergenerational relationship." --Publishers Weekly