The Words We Share

"Beautifully written and illustrated....I am so glad this book exists in the world."—Bao Phi, author of the Caldecott Honor and Zolotow Award-winning A Different Pond

A young girl helps her dad navigate life in a new country where she understands the language more than he does, in an unforgettable story about communication and community.

Angie is used to helping her dad. Ever since they moved to Canada, he relies on her to translate for him from English to Chinese. Angie is happy to help: when they go to restaurants, at the grocery store, and, one day, when her dad needs help writing some signs for his work.

Building off her success with her dad’s signs, Angie offers her translation skills to others in their community. She’s thrilled when her new business takes off, until one of her clients says he’s unhappy with her work. When her dad offers to help, she can’t imagine how he could. Working together, they find a surprising solution, fixing the problem in a way Angie never would have predicted.

A gorgeously illustrated picture book from up-and-coming author-illustrator Jack Wong (When You Can Swim, Scholastic) that is at once a much-needed exploration of the unique pressures children of immigrants often face, a meditation on the dignity of all people regardless of their differences, and a reminder of the power of empathy.

DUAL LANGUAGE: Cantonese is used throughout the manuscript and featured on the cover, honoring multilingualism and setting it apart from other children's immigration stories on the market

CLASSROOM RESOURCE: strong themes of community and communication make this an excellent classroom resource

TIMELY AND IMPORTANT THEMES: based on Jack’s experiences as a child, this is a story of the deep connections between parent and child, and the importance of individual agency, and how that leads to greater empathy for and understanding of one another.

MOVING STORYTELLING: this thoughtful story and accessible art have the potential to resonate widely with and move readers.

BRILLIANT EMERGING CREATOR: Jack is a brilliant new talent on the kid lit scene, with forthcoming books as both author and illustrator as well as illustrating other projects.

EDUCATOR'S GUIDE: Free resources will be available for download at AnnickPress.com, and in Edelweiss, BookManager, Catalist