*Luli and the Language of Tea by Andrea Wang

It’s hard for Luli to play with other children when none of them can understand one another until she practices the common language of hospitality.

*Luli and the Language of Tea by Andrea Wang and illustrated by Hyewon Yum. Neal Porter Books, 2022. 40 pages.

• Reading Level: Picture books, ages 4-8
• Recommended For: Ages 4-8

Luli and a roomful of children from many different countries have to wait while their parents attend ESL classes. How can they play if they can’t communicate? What do they have in common?

Tea is an almost universal pleasure, even if you call the beverage “chai” (or some variation of either word). So Luli creates hospitality with a tea set and loose leaves, and invites the other children to join her. Their response and sharing so everyone has enough is beautiful. Information at the end explains the history of the tea trade and how each culture prefers their tea. I’m excited to explore new possibilities.

Bottom Line: Highly recommended! A new favorite with genuine child-appeal.

*indicates a starred review, the best of the best in its field

Recommended Reading at Redeemed Reader

• Book Review: Teatime Around the World
• Book Review: Noodles on a Bicycle (another fun picture book about food and family in another culture)
• Resource: A Cookie-Themed Story Tea (we include a Story Tea in every issue of our Redeemed Reader Quarterly!)

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