Luli and the Language of Tea

“A story of a child in a classroom who doesn’t speak the language, but in this case there’s inclusion from the start…No one language is prioritized, and no one is left out. One of the book’s linguistic treats is that each language’s word for tea is presented both phonetically and in written form, giving readers a visual taste of Mandarin, Russian, Hindi, Persian, and Arabic.”

“Wang writes a simple, precise narrative that is more than the sum of its parts. Few writers could conjure up the characters’ contentment as concisely. . . . Yum’s sensitive colored-pencil illustrations use clean lines, rounded shapes, and soft hues to depict the setting and reveal the characters’ emotions. . . . A rewarding read-aloud choice.”

“[A] gladdening picture book. . . . Yum demonstrates her facility with colored pencils in Luli‘s classroom scenes and endpapers, in which a glorious spread captures an assortment of teacups, each decorated in a style suited to the country it represents.”

“Wang’s seamless text weaves the children’s names, spoken language, and pronunciations into her story. Meanwhile Yum’s illustrations give life and personality to the children with spot-on expressions and plenty of detail. . . . A delightful look at coming together despite differences that is centered on the immigrant experience of learning English. A great addition to all collections.”

“Yum’s colored-pencil illustrations work alongside Wang’s simple, rhythmic text to highlight the concepts of uniqueness and similarity. . . . A warming and gentle celebration of connection.”

“Wang brings a group of children together via a beloved beverage in this warming picture book…A bird’s-eye view emphasizes the community that accompanies sharing a cup of tea.”

“Gentle, child-like art is as inviting as a cup of warm tea. With utter simplicity, this book connects disparate cultures to build natural community.”

“Tea drinking everywhere celebrates community and togetherness; Wang (Watercress, rev. 3/21) has cleverly re-created (and diversified) that ritual in a microcosm. Yum’s (Saturday Is Swimming Day, rev. 7/18) overhead view of the table shows smiling faces and varied skin tones, and her illustrations make clear that the Asian teacups with no handles are perfect for small hands—and safe.”

“A charming, affirming, quietly triumphant story of reaching across barriers and creating a community.”

“A simple, profound story about how children already know many of our universal languages – in this case, it happens to be tea.”

“Uplifting, heart-filling, and beautifully illustrated, Luli and the Language of Tea reminds us that the language of kindness is universal.”

“Like a sip of delicious hot tea, this book will warm your heart and feed your soul. A wonderful reminder that taking a risk and pouring yourself into new friendships can lead to connections that are deeper than words.”

“With charm and lightness of touch, Andrea Wang and Hyewon Yum brew up a universal instance in the lives of all recent immigrants—the welcome realization that despite our different languages and the color of our skin, we are blended more by our similarities than our differences.”