9780823446148 | Neal Porter Books (Holiday House)

In her book Luli and the Language of Tea, illustrated by Hyewon Yum, author Andrea Wang, tells the story of a young girl, Luli, who accompanies a family member to school to learn English.

Although Luli passes the time in the classroom next door with other children her age, she can’t speak English and neither can they. “All around the room, children played alone.”

It’s easy to see how this story will resonate with many families who, like Luli’s, are in a new place, learning to speak a language that is not their own. This is about Luli’s particular experience in that classroom, but there are touch points for all of us. Haven’t we all been in situations where we felt alone or shy, quiet or out of our comfort zone?

But that’s not all this story has to offer. This is also a story about how, despite our differences, we can find and share those things we have in common.  In Luli’s story, that commonality is tea. Though none of the kids speak the same language, the word, tea, and the experience of drinking it is something they are all very familiar with.

And so, Luli plans a tea party for all her classmates:

Hands curled around warm cups.
Mouths curved into shy smiles.

In those words, we feel the shift in the relationship of the children. Then, Luli has one more surprise for her friends:

She held up a box and spoke
her new favorite word.
In English.

“Cookie?”

The playroom is no longer quiet… The last line of text brings the story full circle: “Luli’s teapot was empty, but her heart was full.”

Not only is LULI AND THE LANGUAGE OF TEA a beautifully written picture book, but the illustrations, charmingly rendered in colored pencil, make this a book for every classroom, library, and home.