by Kelly Zhang

When we think of a family member (other than our parents) who is most near and dear to our hearts, the image of our grandmothers will likely enter our minds. We picture an elderly woman who is infinitely wise, kind, patient, resourceful… and maybe, just a tad quirky and old-fashioned.

The figure of Grandma is often intertwined with cherished memories of childhood, accompanied by myriad positive feelings and familiar sensory details: the smell of bubbling pots, firewood, and dewy gardens, the tantalizing flavor of a beloved family dish and various yummy treats, the soothing sound of bedtime tales and lullabies, the comforting textures of handmade clothing and heirloom toys… and that warm, fuzzy feeling called love.

In Chinese culture, communal living and multi-generational households have been popular and commonplace since ancient times. Even in today’s fast-paced, urbanized society with smaller core family units, parents who are busy with work regularly send their kids to the care of the grandparents. Grandmas naturally become the best friend/playmate and trusted guardian of their grandchildren, nurturing their bodies and minds, and enriching their lives with love and joy as they grow up.

Here is a selection of Chinese picture books that portray several such wonderful grandmas and showcase the amazing, unique ways they share their light with their families and communities.

By the soft glow of a kerosene lamp, a bespectacled grandma works with deft hands to magically transform scraps of leftover cloths into beautiful garments for her grandchildren and practical items for the household: dazzling patchwork blankets, floral curtain panels, a stuffed toy, warm winter boots, a cute tigerhead hat… and even a giant swing dangling from rainbow clouds! The possibilities are endless.

The playful, accessible text is structured like a conversation between grandma and grandchild. Because children are naturally curious, they are intrigued by everything that grandma does, and ask plenty of questions along the way. Grandma’s patient explanations, complemented by illustrations of the various vibrantly colored and meticulously made objects provide perfectly delightful answers to their questions.

Seasoned author-illustrator Aozi combines Chinese folk art-inspired paper cutting and fabric collage techniques to produce highly-textured art that oozes rustic charm. This Chen Bochui Children’s Literature Award-winning picture book is a feast for the eyes and a warm hug for the soul. 

Granny may be old, but she’s certainly not feeble or idle. She builds a splendid garden atop the roof of her apartment building. She waters, weeds, and gets rid of sneaky pests; she recycles leftover produce from local farmer’s markets to feed her livestock and fertilize her plants. She tends to her garden like how she cares for her human family—with love, devotion, patience, and pride.

Come harvest time, Granny gathers her fresh, organically-grown vegetables and gives them away to everyone in her community. She cooks up yummy, nutritious meals for her children and grandchildren, and entertains guests with delectable feasts.

With ingenuity, hard work, and boundless optimism, Granny carves out a green sanctuary in her urban community and brings together folks from all walks of life.

The humorous, rhyming text mimics traditional Chinese nursery rhymes and folk chants. The expressive colored pencil drawings harmonize well with an earthy, organic palette, and Granny’s spunky, delightful personality will instantly endear herself to readers young and old.

During summer break, a child growing up in a big city is very reluctant to visit her grandma’s home in the countryside. She cries and whines as she boards the bus, fully expecting it to be a miserable and boring trip with nothing interesting to see and no modern amenities to enjoy. 

But once she arrives at grandma’s place (“Mount Grandma”), all her negative preconceptions quickly fly out the window. She ends up having such a fantastic time, she no longer wishes to return to the city!

The cartoon-like illustrations feature bold blocks of color, and depict grandma and grandchild happily bonding over a variety of activities: picking juicy watermelons, making animal-shaped buns, playing hide-and-seek with farm animals, sleeping under a blanket of stars… The child undergoes positive psycho-emotional growth as she spends time with her grandma and enjoys beautiful nature.

The simple text, which spells out the child’s anxiety, doubts, and negative assumptions about what it would be like to live at Mount Grandma, is juxtaposed against bright colorful scenes of her laughing and playing with Grandma and a host of children and animals. It’s a clever and effective device to entertain and engage young readers. 

 

In Old Beijing (circa 1950’s), life went on at a more leisurely pace, and people dwelt in close-knit communities and ultra-friendly neighborhoods. Little girl Pang Niu visits the summer Temple Fair (庙会) with her grandmother, taking in all its delightful sights, sounds, smells, and flavors. There is a dizzying array of local delicacies to savor—some with funny names like ‘Aiwowo’ (sticky sweet halal riceballs), ‘rolling donkeys’ (fried rice cake stuffed with redbean paste and rolled in yellow flour), and golden pea pudding. There’s also plenty of traditional art/craft and folk performances to admire, fresh produce to purchase at the farmer’s market, people to greet and banter with on the streets, and games to play with the neighborhood kid. Plus, some furry guests to cuddle!

Simple times don’t have to be boring. One can find much beauty and joy in the mundane, especially when Grandma is your tour guide to the tastiest foods and best hangouts in town! With additional illustrated maps on the endpapers showing the layout of Old Beijing’s streets, this book is equal parts nostalgic nod to a bygone era, and timeless ode to the joys and wonders of childhood.

Grandmas are real-life fairies and magicians. They cast mysterious spells that churn out the most delicious snacks, cultivate the most gorgeous gardens, weave the most enchanting tales, transform odds and ends into precious works of art… They can also heal sickness and wounds with secret balms and herbs, patiently answer a gazillion questions, and spoil us even more than our parents.

Grandmas turn boring, ordinary things into memorable and extraordinary ones. Day and night, they use their magic to make the world a kinder, warmer, more welcoming place. No one can escape the magic of Grandmas.

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All images reproduced here with kind permission from the creators and / or rights holders.

Meet Kelly Zhang

Kelly Zhang is a Chinese Canadian bilingual children’s author and literary translator. She writes heartfelt stories inspired by her heritage culture and informed by her lived experiences. She translates contemporary children’s fiction from the Chinese, and always seeks to elevate the voices of women writers and marginalized creatives.

Kelly’s debut picture book TAKE ME TO LAOLAO is forthcoming from Quill Tree/HarperCollins in January 2024. Her translation of the picture book GRANDMA’S ROOF GARDEN and MG novel TILTED SKY are forthcoming from Levine Querido in Spring 2024. Kelly is the inaugural Translator Coordinator for SCBWI Canada East. She also regularly translates for the New York Times for Kids (China edition). 

Connect with Kelly on Twitter (@KellyZhang_YL), or visit http://www.kellyzhangyl.com