Review by Booklist Review
Sumi is a young child whose mother "speaks with two tongues," smoothly navigating between Malayalam and English. Malayalam is her mom's first language, which she learned growing up in Kerala, India. In school, she learned English starting at age 12, later immigrating to the U.S. as an adult. Her two tongues are woven together seamlessly: she speaks Malayalam with Sumi's grandmother, a blend of both to Sumi, and easily switches to English with the grocery-store cashier. Sumi acknowledges that everyone has an accent and that "every person's voice is unique and important." Other members of Sumi's family also use multiple tongues. Sumi aspires to develop a superpower language tapestry of her own, which will allow her to "speak with people who live in every part of the world." The textured mixed-media illustrations reflect the textile metaphors of multilingualism in the narrative. The visual depiction of language, including words and swirls as well as diverse facial features and cultural details, enhances the inclusive messaging. An uplifting story that promotes understanding and connection through language.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
"Though my mother speaks with two tongues, I can see only one in her mouth. That's because the two... are now woven together like fine cloth. The seams are invisible." Using explanatory prose, Menon details how young Sumi's mother, born in Kerala, speaks Malayalam as well as the English she learned at school in India and after moving to America. Sumi, born in America, also speaks both languages. While visiting a store, Sumi's mother speaks English with a cashier, and a blend of languages when speaking to Sumi: "The languages hop, like rabbits, from her tongue." Further pages describe how "each language is like a muscle," note that "the more languages I learn and practice... the stronger my brain will become," and underline the idea that "no matter how they speak, every person's voice is unique and important." Employing canvas and quilted textures, Jomepour Bell emphasizes the theme of weaving throughout this informative celebration of multilingualism. Background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 4--8. (Feb.)
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Review by Horn Book Review
Sumi's mother switches effortlessly between Malayalam, a regional language from Kerala, India, and English. She speaks Malayalam to Sumi's grandmother, a mix of English and Malayalam to Sumi, and English to others outside the family. Sumi reflects on how her mother's two languages are "woven together like a fine cloth." She knows her mother worked hard to develop proficiency in English, but when she moved to America, unfamiliar words and phrases made her "two tongues" feel like they "were twisted into pretzels." As Sumi travels between America and India, she too works hard to learn two languages and connect with those around her. In awe of this apparent "superpower," she hopes to learn many more languages in order to "speak with people who live in every part of the world." Menon's respectful story highlights the power of multilingualism and examines the link between accents and identity. Bell's tactile mixed-media illustrations incorporate an inventive representation of textiles, fonts, and images reflecting each locale, from a scene of boating in Kerala to a snowy day in America. A diverse cast of characters with a variety of skin tones underscores the focus on multilingualism and multiculturalism. A thought-provoking look at the connecting power of language. Sadaf SiddiqueJanuary/February 2024 p.79 (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
Musings on multilingualism. Sumi's mother speaks two languages: Malayalam and English. She speaks Malayalam because she grew up in the Indian state of Kerala, where Malayalam is the local language. She speaks English because she learned it in school in India; years later, she would immigrate to America. Similarly, Sumi learned Malayalam--"my first tongue"--from using it with family at home in America. Sumi learned English by listening to other people at school and in the neighborhood; mother and child are now comfortable in both tongues. Sumi explains that learning a new language can be difficult--Sumi's mother struggled with American English when she arrived in the U.S., while Sumi needs help speaking Malayalam when visiting relatives in India. While learning a language might be challenging, it also opens so many doors, which is why Sumi considers multilingualism to be the ultimate superpower. The illustrations, which mimic tapestries, are a clever companion to the text, which often invokes a weaving metaphor to explain the feeling of bi- and multilingualism. At times the book feels more like a lecture than a story. Still, it conveys an essential message about the power of language, and the lyrical narratorial voice beautifully balances curiosity and playfulness. A charming ode to the joy of learning new languages. (Picture book. 3-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
