My Language Is a Garden

★ "Captures a language's ability to connect one to places, ancestry, and cultural heritage through the sharing of stories, family recipes, and so much more. An inspiring addition to any collection." -- Booklist, starred review

Do you know my language? Have you heard the sounds it makes? Has it rocked you in its rhythms? Have you seen the roads it takes?

A parent invites a child to get to know their language. In a driving rhythm, they speak about the language blossoming in deserts and plains, building castles and forts and motoring over roadways. Not hemmed in by borders, this language holds ancient knowledge, medicines and nourishment within it, and has explored the farthest reaches of the universe. The parent realizes that teaching their heritage language to their child will connect them always and allow them to grow a garden of language together.

For the parents and caregivers who want to share their heritage language with the children in their lives, E.G. Alaraj has crafted this celebratory and inspiring poem in hopes it will get more conversations started and encourage kids to see the joy in discovering their roots. Exploring the links between language, culture and the natural world, this book is a heartfelt celebration of the vitality and importance of our languages and how they bind us together.

Praise for E.G. Alaraj:

★"A stunning marriage of text and art that will linger with listeners as they slip into sleep...This melodic lullaby is warm and tender perfection."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review for When Stars Arise

E.G. Alaraj grew up in the magical place that every child knows, where ideas look like pictures drawn with crayons and sound like stories from long ago and far away. The youngest of six girls in a homeschool family, she spent her childhood with her nose in storybooks, art books, music books, notebooks and trouble--especially trouble. In fact, she thinks trouble and imagination are best friends. E.G. lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Rachel Wada's work is defined by heavy texture, bold color and intricate details that capture the nuances of people, places and ideas, real and surreal. Rachel's identity as Japanese-Cantonese, an immigrant and a woman informs her artistic practice. She loves to put her own spin on traditional techniques, motifs and symbolism inspired by her cultural background. This duality of old and new is also apparent in her use of both traditional and digital mediums, and she draws inspiration from a variety of sources, from Japanese woodblock prints, Chinese pottery and ceramics to food-packaging design and traditional folk art. Rachel lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.