Vo, Young. Gibberish. Young Vo, Illus. Picture Book. Levine Querido, 03/2022. $17.99. 978-1-64614-110-4. OUTSTANDING. GRADES K-3.
Dat “first sailed on a boat, then flew on a plane” before arriving at his new school by bus. His mah tells him, “When people speak, it will sound like gibberish, Dat. Just listen and do the best you can.” The story focuses on Dat’s perception of this strange new environment, a place where only he and his mother are shown in color. The people he encounters—classmates, a bus driver, and his teacher—appear as cartoon character, and the words coming out of their mouths are indecipherable symbols. A simple narrative grounds the story, but it is the expressive illustrations that so brilliantly capture the challenges Dat faces. In one particularly strong image, words fall into pieces on the ground as he attempts to read in front of his class. Change arrives in the form of a friendly girl who invites Dat to play. Her kindness helps him acclimate to his new environment. Gibberish soon translates into actual words, cartoon characters transform into real people, and gray gives way to color. Dat and his mother are Asian, but their country of origin and host country remain unnamed, emphasizing the universal nature of his experience. Filled with empathy and humor, this book belongs in all collections.
Jenny Andrus, Independent