Cynsations

GRANDFATHER COUNTS by Andrea Cheng, illustrated by Ange Zhang (Lee & Low, 2000)

When Gong Gong (grandfather) first comes to live with Helen, she feels distanced by his inability to speak English and her inability to speak Chinese. Then, watching a train together, they begin to teach each other how to count the cars, Helen in English and Gong Gong in Chinese. In time, the two begin to bond as grandparent to child. A realistic, warm book that is not overly sentimental. Helen’s family is Asian and European-American, but no issue is made of this. Ages 4-up.