My Day with Gong Gong

By Sennah Yee, Elaine Chen (Illustrator)

A bored girl discovers unexpected bonds with her grandpa in Chinatown.

4.3/7 Bookroo expert·4.2/5 Goodreads · 485 ratings

36 pages· 808 words· Est. 7 min read-aloud

$18.95Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

May's day in Chinatown with her grandpa, Gong Gong, seems dull and frustrating due to language barriers and cultural misunderstandings. But when Gong Gong surprises her with a thoughtful gift, May realizes he's been more attentive than she thought. This heartwarming tale explores how shared moments and a dumpling or two can bridge generational and cultural gaps, revealing the hidden connections between a child and her grandparent.

From the publisher

A day in Chinatown takes an unexpected turn when a bored little girl makes a connection with her grandpa. May isn’t having fun on her trip through Chinatown with her grandfather. Gong Gong doesn’t speak much English, and May can’t understand Chinese. She’s hungry, and bored with Gong Gong’s errands. Plus, it seems like Gong Gong’s friends are making fun of her! But just when May can’t take any more, Gong Gong surprises her with a gift that reveals he’s been paying more attention than she thought. With lighthearted, expressive illustrations by Elaine Chen, this charming debut expertly captures life in the cityand shows how small, shared moments of patience and care–and a dumpling or two–can help a child and grandparent bridge the generational and cultural gaps between them. A glossary at the end of the book features translations of the Chinese words from the story into Chinese characters and English.

At a glance

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 36
Words: 808
Reading age: 4–7
Audience: Picture
Lexile: AD480L

Themes & topics

Books about multigenerational Books about Chinese culture Books about culture Books about feelings and emotions Books about family

What readers & critics say

Reviews

4.3

out of 7

4.3

“I'm a sucker for a good multi-generational story, so I really hoped to like this one, but it fell flat for me, spending too much of the story with the little girl feeling hungry and like her grandfather isn't paying attention to her. The infusion of Cantonese was a nice peek into another language.”

Marmee

Trusted reviewer

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