After my Chinese speaking grandmother passed away, I started dreaming about having conversations with her in English. I DREAM OF POPO is based on my own experiences emigrating from Taiwan. And one incredibly special thing about this book is that the author, the illustrator, and the editor are all Taiwanese American.
From New York Times bestselling author Livia Blackburne and illustrator Julia Kuo, here is I Dream of Popo. This delicate, emotionally rich picture book celebrates a special connection that crosses time zones and oceans as Popo and her granddaughter hold each other in their hearts forever.
I dream with Popo as she rocks me in her arms.
I wave at Popo before I board my flight.
I talk to Popo from across the sea.
I tell Popo about my adventures.
When a young girl and her family emigrate from Taiwan to America, she leaves behind her beloved popo, her grandmother. She misses her popo every day, but even if their visits are fleeting, their love is ever true and strong.
Order I Dream of Popo from:
Hardcover: Bookshop | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Blackwell’s (free international shipping)
Ebook: Kindle | Nook | iBooks | Google Play | Kobo
AWARDS & ACCOLADES:
American Library Association (ALA) Notable Book for Children 2022
New York Public Library Best Books of 2021
Booklist Editor’s Choice 2021
Evanstan Public Library 101 Great Books for Kids 2021
Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choices 2022
Publisher’s Weekly, starred review
Kirkus Star
Booklist, starred review
Stacey Abrams’s List of Remarkable Books
CRITICAL PRAISE:
“A richly nuanced narrative that illuminates the interstices of one family’s diasporic experience.” —Publisher’s Weekly, starred review
“Sympathetic, gentle treatments of aging and illness convey life’s inevitabilities with a loving imagination steeped in the scent of sweet osmanthus. . . Readers will connect with this visual story on various levels or learn something new; possibly both.” —Kirkus, starred review
“This modern tale beautifully explores what it’s like for a child to move across the globe and the toll that family separations can take.” —Booklist, starred review
“With lyrical language (‘The airplane thrums like the biggest cat I’ve ever seen’) and Kuo’s detailed, evocative illustrations, Blackburne vividly depicts the adjustment a small child makes when moving to a new place…” —Buffalo News
“A beautiful story to share between parents and grandparents and the children they love.” —The Virginian Pilot
“A lyrical and heartfelt tribute to the power of love across geography and generations.” —Bookpage
“Rich with emotions, cultural traditions, and enchanting illustrations, this book celebrates the love between a child and grandparent.” —Andrea Wang, for Parents Magazine
“Blackburne’s nuanced narrative and Kuo’s eye-catchingly hued illustrations bring readers on a heartwarming journey, providing an opportunity to explore and discuss the themes of identity, roots, connection, and emigration.” —The Horn Book
“A beautiful story to share between parents or grandparents and the children they love.” —The Daily Press
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
I Dream of Popo Activity Kit – Download the kit here.
I-Dream-of-Popo-Activity-Kit_v4
Resources on Chinese Language and Culture – Download this resource here.
Resources on Chinese Language and Culture (No OUAT) (1)