Review by Booklist Review
Here's a book that walks the fine line between shining a light on painstaking agricultural work and romanticizing it. The story, set in China, follows a family of four as they rise early, before dawn, to trek into the hills to the tea garden, where they pick tea leaves and gather them in baskets on their backs. The journey is arduous but beautiful, and the illustrations help readers understand the terrain and life-forms. The family works silently until the adults break out with songs and jokes to make the children laugh and keep them distracted and working. As the sun rises, the heat and sap from the tea stems cause discomfort, which is quickly assuaged by cool spring water and a picnic. Readers will learn where tea comes from before it reaches the stores in pretty boxes, but ultimately, this is a story of a close-knit family that works hard picking and selling tea, finding pleasure in the beauty of their environment.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Horn Book Review
Two siblings join their parents on a rare trip to their baba's tea garden high in the mountains. Waking before dawn, they hike through thick morning fog, "strapping wicker baskets to [their] backs" and climbing steep paths until they reach the misty fields. There they spend the day picking tea leaves row by row, their hands growing sticky and sore. They chase after bamboo partridges, catch a praying mantis, and drink tea brewed with cool spring water. The day is full of small wonders, from dragonflies circling the garden to a sudden rainstorm that soaks the fields and passes just as quickly. As the sun sets, they sort and bag the leaves, then carefully descend the slippery trail home, delivering their harvest to the tea factory on the way. When their father spots trucks leaving the factory, he proudly calls out, "There go our tea leaves!" Yu's earthy palette -- rich with dark browns, olive greens, and sunlit yellows -- roots the story in the landscape. Xu's text honors the rhythm of nature and tradition and conveys the deep sense of joy that comes from hard work and family unity. Inspired by his own childhood tea-picking days, Xu captures the world through a child's eyes with warmth and clarity, making this a quietly compelling read. Weileen WangJuly/August 2025 p.88 (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 family picks tea leaves on a mountaintop in China. Mama and the two children (the elder of whom narrates) wake early one morning to accompany Baba to his tea garden. It's a special treat, as Baba usually goes alone. They eat a filling breakfast in their cramped but cozy home, pack lunches, strap wicker baskets to their backs, and head out. Illustrations depicting their early-morning trek feature foggy landscapes and steep climbs full of wonder. The kids are excited about it all--the bamboo partridges hiding among the plants, the praying mantis they spot, their echoing songs and laughter, the competition to see which of them can pick more tea leaves. It's tough work and irritating to the skin, but the narrator's enthusiasm never dims. Even during their lunch break, the kids dart around, picking fruit and fetching water. After a nap, some rain, more partridge sightings, and more work, the sun begins to set, and a lovely panorama shows families walking down mountain paths with full baskets on their backs. They bring their bags to a bustling tea factory, where the tea farmers line up to sell their harvest. Reminiscent of Diego Rivera's work, Yu's artwork, with its bold strokes and earthy colors, lovingly portrays a hardworking farming family. Xu's text, translated from Chinese, perfectly captures a child's perspective, acknowledging the characters' travails while focusing on everyday pleasures. A joyful and dignified snapshot of rural family life.(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
