Bela and Lily

A young Bangladeshi immigrant explores a park--and makes a new friend. Bela spots a frog and calls to a group of nearby kids ("Look, a frog!"), but she isn't fluent in English, and the other children laugh ("Did you say lick a frog?"). But she quickly bonds with a kind, light-skinned young girl named Lily, and when Bela removes an insect that's flown onto Lily's back, their exchange ("Oh, a bug." "Poka.") inspires them to share words in Bengali and English. Soon the kids tussle over a shiny rock that reminds Bela of home, but she doesn't have the language to explain, and as they argue, the stone falls into the mud. But the next day, Bela gives Lily a handmade gift, while Lily presents her with the now "sparkly and clean" rock. Inspired by her own experiences as an immigrant, Khan Kazi captures the frustration of language barriers, as well as the joys of transcending them: The little steps the girls take to understand each other lead to a blooming friendship. Rich details about Bela's life in Bangladesh--rickshaws on the streets, days spent hunting for treasure with her cousins--offer a peek into the home she misses. Pastel watercolors with bursts of vibrant green complement the gently paced story. An uplifting tale of budding friendship built on connections forged through play. (author's note, games kids can play without using words)(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.