By Julie Leung
Illustrated by Angie Kang
Anne Schwartz Books / Random House, 2026
40 pages
978-0-593-89769-0
Ages 5-10
Inspired by Leung’s own childhood, this story centers on a Chinese American girl who helps her father, Baba, deliver the takeout orders from their family’s Chinese restaurant. In a time before smartphones and GPS, the girl uses a notebook of addresses and a foldout map spread across her lap to navigate. On one rainy night, their dynamic plays out in a variety of impactful ways. At one house, the daughter translates for an elderly customer who comments, “What a good kid you are, helping your dad.” At another, she’s embarrassed to deliver to a family with a girl her own age and tells Baba, “Other kids don’t have to do this.” Baba tells her about a night from his childhood, “a night that darkened an entire nation, turning neighbor against neighbor,” creating the impetus for his immigration. Meanwhile, the girl struggles to find a new address on the map, and when they arrive late, they do not receive a tip. Baba shares another story about unsuccessfully navigating New York City. “Before I had you, I would get so lost.” Back at the restaurant, their family is waiting with oxtail stew, and the daughter reflects on their journey: “Together we find our way home.” Angie Kang’s lush, evocative illustrations rendered in gouache, crayon, colored pencil, and pastel are outstanding. Combined with Leung’s text, the result is a thoughtful story about the sacrifices made by both immigrant parents and their children. ©2026 Cooperative Children’s Book Center