Grandma's Roof Garden

Granny may be old, but she's certainly not feeble - or idle! She's built a splendid vegetable garden from scratch on the rooftop of her Chengdu apartment building.

She collects thrown-away produce to feed her animals or make compost for the garden.

She waters, weeds, and shows the neighborhood kids how to care for her plants: with love, patience, and pride.

Come harvest time, Granny gathers her fresh produce and cooks up a delicious feast for her friends and family. She even sends them off with extra bags of goodies so people can make their own yummy, healthy meals at home!

Debut author/illustrator Tang Wei creates a love letter to an indomitable grandma of the city, inspired by her own childhood and a beloved relative. Combining a fun, rhythmic text reminiscent of Chinese folk nursery rhymes with earthy, vibrant colored pencil drawings, Wei shows how one person can create a beautiful green space in the heart of the concrete jungle and bring together an entire community.

P R A I S E

★ "This heartwarming tale is one to share and treasure."
-BookPage (starred)

★ "In this exquisite debut inspired by her childhood and a precious elder, Wei lovingly cultivates a picture book that captures Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan province, with expressionistic folk art and vibrant, textured colored-pencil illustrations... Readers with a green thumb will admire Granny's passion for giving back to the community while living happily and healthily in green spaces."
-Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred)

Author: Tang Wei
Publisher: Levine Querido
Published: 01/16/2024
Pages: 40
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.85lbs
Size: 9.70h x 9.60w x 0.50d
ISBN: 9781646147014
Audience: Ages 4-8


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 11/15/2023
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 01/01/2024 - Book Of Special Distinction
Booklist 12/01/2023 pg. 129
Foreword 12/27/2023
Publishers Weekly 01/29/2024

About the Author
Tang Wei is a rising young Chinese illustrator from Sichuan province. She is graduate of Sichuan Xihua University's animation program and was a 2021 Finalist in the Shanghai International Children's Book Fair's Golden Pinwheel Illustration Awards. Grandma's Roof Garden is her debut work as an author/illustrator and a true book of her heart.

Kelly Zhang is a first-generation Chinese immigrant, bilingual author, and literary translator based in Ottawa, Canada. She writes heartfelt stories inspired by her heritage culture and informed by her lived experiences. Kelly also translates contemporary children's fiction originating from mainland China and the Chinese diaspora, and always seeks to elevate the voices of young emerging writers and women creatives. Her debut picture book, Take Me to Laolao, is forthcoming with Quill Tree/HC in Winter 2024. She translates for the New York Times for Kids (China edition) and regularly contributes to the WorldKidLit Blog. Connect with Kelly on Twitter (@KellyZhang_YL), or visit her website: www.kellyzhangyl.com.