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Broken
CCBC Review:
Guilt gets the better of the protagonist of this funny and relatable story. Bored at her Ama’s house one day, Mei Mei (Asian) amuses herself by scaring the cat, Mimi, who’s snoozing in an armchair—and in the process, she knocks Ama’s mug off the side table, breaking it into three pieces. She runs outside, her anxiety growing as she imagines Ama’s possible reactions, each increasingly more extreme. Reluctantly joining Ama for tea later, Mei Mei notices that the broken cup has been removed and realizes that Ama thinks the cat is to blame. “Mimi stared at me. Mimi knew the truth. Mimi was taking the blame.” Mei Mei simply cannot enjoy her cake with Mimi (whose accusing face grows increasingly and comically large on the page) staring at her. “I couldn’t take it anymore!” Mei Mei has no recourse but to hide in the closet “until all [her] problems [go] away.” But when Ama expresses concern, the truth comes pouring out of Mei Mei. Her confession is met with Ama’s gentle understanding and creative problem-solving. After all, “every patch and every repair tells a story.” And there’s nothing a little glue can’t fix. Mei Mei’s moral quandary and big emotions are perfectly depicted in a story that leans into dramatic tension, humor, and heart, both in text and illustration. ©2026 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
Illustrated by X. Fang
CCBC Age Recommendation: 4-8
Age Range:
PreK-Early Elementary (Ages 4-7)
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10)
Format:
Picture book
Subjects:
Accidents and Injuries
Grandmothers
Guilt and Remorse
Humor
Diversity subject:
Asian
Publisher:
Tundra
Publish Year: 2025
Pages: 48
ISBN: 9781774882009
CCBC Location: Picture Book, Fang