Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
The married creators of My First Day follow their debut, per an authors' note, with a story created "in tribute to the very first pioneers to the south of Vietnam." In a lush jungle navigated by boat, Grandfather understands nature not as adversary but through metaphors of harmony and accompaniment. "This is music, and we must learn the song," Grandfather tells narrating child Ti. Crisp-edged, brilliantly colored spreads focus on broad skies as Grandfather builds a home and begins to cultivate rice. Large animals worked into the art--a tiger, a turtle--personify the landscape's power, as well as a way to approach it ("Make the song a shell and wrap it around you, hard as a turtle"). The elder's gentle hand is always there, guiding Ti until the child learns to see nature as Grandfather does, as "an instrument that, with time, gives us rice, fresh water to drink, a harmony of plenty." It's a vivid testament to working with, instead of against, the natural world. Ages 4--8. (Oct.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2--In a moving story paired with lush illustrations, Tí travels with Grandfather to a strange new home, where the flora and fauna seem to loom over him, watching his every move. Grandfather eases Tí's nerves by teaching him how to build on the knowledge of the people that came before them to commune with the land--the "song" of the title--and become confident in his role there. The married team behind this picture book, inspired by the mythology of their home, Vietnam, develop a visually rich story that is both a tribute to the past and a call to protect the natural world of the near future. The stunning landscapes on each page are fantastical and immersive: giant monkeys, tigers, and turtles loom in the jungle, while a dragon's face is just barely visible in the dark, swirling clouds of a storm. Readers will feel the windswept grass tickle their feet and hear the ocean waves crash under Grandfather's boat. VERDICT Fans of Aaron Becker and David Wiesner will be drawn to this beautiful, surreal tale about learning how to have a respectful relationship with nature, thanks to the wisdom and efforts of one's ancestors.--Alexandra Quay
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Review by Horn Book Review
At the beginning of the story, a grandson and grandfather stand with their palms pressed together, bowing in reverence to the jungle. Grandfather is hard at work building a new home, planting rice, and fishing, while his grandchild, Ti, wears a timid expression, distracted by the unknowns of the wild. When their boat is caught up in stormy waves, the grandfather imparts a lesson of harmony with nature. "'My voice is so much smaller than the sky's,' I say. Grandfather places a hand on my shoulder. 'But still the sky is singing. You do not have to shout down the storm. Find its rhythm; sing with it.'" Gentle prose recounts a family's humble roots intertwined with an elder's respect for nature to pass on to next generations; the narrative's natural cadence with simple back-and-forth dialogue evokes oral traditions. Vivid illustrations of grandfather and grandson among lush landscapes reflect the cultural heritage and biodiversity unique to Vietnam. Appended notes provide additional details ("in tribute to the very first pioneers to the south of Vietnam") and leave readers with a call to action to spark conversations with parents and grandparents and to consider the importance of conservation. Kristine TechavanichNovember/December 2023 p.65 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A grandfather teaches his grandchild nature's song. "Listen, do you hear it?" the grandfather asks his grandchild, Tí, as he steers a small boat. The duo have come to a "new land" now known as Vietnam. As the grandfather and the jungle, symbolized by foliage that forms the image of a monkey, greet one another, the grandson observes "a thousand voices at once. A crash of noises." The child finds it all overwhelming, yet the grandfather explains, "This is music, and we must learn the song." As the two of them build a fence around their new home, the grandfather calmly explains, "The bamboo we cut is a melody we raise high as a roof." Tí gradually gains survival skills such as fishing, sailing, and cultivating the land. Every page teems with vivid landscapes and textures, the deft use of light, colors, and lush detail making for dramatic scenes. When Grandfather says, "You do not have to shout down the storm. Find its rhythm; sing with it," readers will feel the stark cold of a sea storm. The narrative comes full circle, with a now-adult Tí asking a child, "Listen, do you hear it?" In the backmatter, the creators note that their tale pays homage to "the very first pioneers to the South of Vietnam." A mesmerizing and enthralling tribute. (note from Make Me a World creative director Christopher Myers) (Picture book. 5-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
