The picnic became a beloved event for all those who participated and the great soybean picnic eventually had hundreds of guests. As the soybean picnic embedded itself into the yearly family tradition, it also became an anticipated event for friends and neighbors in the area. For Jinyi and her family, discovering soybeans in America was cause for celebration! The weekend celebration was filled with familiar smells and tastes as the family worked together to create a menu that celebrates a traditional Chinese meal. Soybeans are a staple in Chinese cooking. This is the story of how a tradition was created and how, over time, it developed into something much more. For Jinyi and her sister, it’s spending a weekend at their Auntie Yang’s house in Chicago. From curling up very small like a seed in the ground to reaching high into the sky, this story will make young readers want to get up and be a tree! This a perfect book to read aloud as its language and illustrations are a treat for all to experience.Īuntie Yang’s Great Soybean Picnic by Ginnie Lo and Beth Lo (2012)Įvery family has its own traditions. She invites the reader to experience what it means to be a tree-from seed to leaves. The bilingual poetry of Maya Christina Gonzalez in Call Me Tree / Llàmame arbol flows beautifully. Come by and check them out for yourself!Ĭall Me Tree / Llàmame arbol by Maya Christina Gonzalez (2014) The titles below celebrate diversity and all reading levels through fun and colorful stories.

Mertz Library is pleased to welcome Lee & Low Books to the Children’s Collection. Samantha D’Acunto is the Reference Librarian at The New York Botanical Garden‘s LuEsther T. Posted in From the Library on March 13 2017, by Samantha D’Acunto

Spotlights from the Shelf: Celebrating Culture and Nature with Books

Call Me Tree by Maya Christina González