Guojing. Flamingo, The. Guojing, Illus. Random, 09/2022. 142pp. Graphic. GRADES 1 – 5. HIGH ADDITIONAL. Trade $18.99. 978-0-593-12731-5.
A little girl visits her Lao Lao (Mandarin for grandmother) and finds a flamingo feather on grandma’s mantel. With just a few sentences spread throughout, Lao Lao tells how she found an egg and a flamingo hatched from it. It may take several rereads to figure out if grandma’s story is true or imaginary. The watercolor-and-pencil illustrations are essential since they make up the majority of the book, conveying the message that even though loved ones are apart they are still in one’s heart. Dominated by gray, blue, red, and pink, the girl and grandma are the only human characters and appear to be Asian. Teachers may use this thoughtful book to spark a creative writing assignment.
Penny Peck—San Jose State University iSchool