YAYA AND THE DAN-TATS

“Every Saturday, me and Mom bring Yaya a small box of dan-tats to share,” the young narrator informs readers. The child’s grandfather, who lives in a nursing home, uses a wheelchair and has memory issues. Though Yaya speaks only Chinese, the two bond over their love of egg tarts. But today, Yaya promptly takes the box and disappears down the hall. Though nervous of the other residents—Chinese elders who “fart and burp and cough” and “smile without their teeth in”—the child follows. The protagonist’s energetic voice introduces a colorful crew of personalities, revealed to be far more welcoming than they first appeared, as Yaya stops to give dan-tats to Mrs. Tam, who is “always knitting,” sports-loving Mr. Lee, and grumpy Mr. Kwan, who drops crumbs while reading the newspaper with Yaya. The comedic interactions warm the child’s heart—but did Yaya forget that dan-tats are their special tradition? No! After sharing the last few egg tarts with the other residents in the community room, they head to Yaya’s room to split the very last one. Xiao’s cartoon artwork is deftly shaded and textured with squiggles, lines, and bold pops of colors that evoke movement and warmth. The tale concludes on an uplifting note, with the protagonist reminded of Yaya’s love—and eager to continue connecting with the other elders next Saturday.