Double Happiness

By Nancy Tupper Ling and Alina Chau

Two siblings moving to a new home—and away from their grandmother—gather up treasures in “a thoughtful and moving story of memory and change” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review).
 
A Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book of the Year
 
For their move far away, Gracie and Jake are sad to leave the golden bridge, the trolley tracks, and Nai Nai. But they fill empty boxes with treasures—a marble, a snake, a pair of wings. Tiny reminders of all they love—so happiness stays close, no matter where they go.
 
With grace and warmth, this lyrical picture book speaks to the difficulty of transition and celebrates the ways in which love and family give us the strength to weather life’s changes.
 
“Beautifully illustrated . . . Simple but vivid language.” —School Library Journal

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Aug 4, 2015
• ISBN: 9781452135557

Book preview

Reviews for Double Happiness

[abigailadams26 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Gracie and Jake aren't particularly happy at the fact that their family is moving away from San Francisco, leaving behind Nai Nai (grandmother), and their Uncle Woo and Auntie Su. But Nai Nai gives them each a box in which to hold those treasures - four apiece - that will bring them comfort and happiness in their new home. The selection process occurs gradually as the two siblings take their leave of the old home, fly to the new one, and begin to get settled, once there.Told through twenty-four poems, each of which has both an English and Chinese title, Double Happiness is fairly text-heavy for a picture-book, and is one I would recommend to a slightly older audience, for that reason. Perhaps six years old and above? I liked its depiction of a loving, contemporary Chinese-American family, and thought that it demonstrated a sensitive appreciation for both the excitement and sadness that children feel when moving, particularly if they are going far away from extended family. That said, I can't say that the poems themselves really impressed me, despite my liking for the general story idea, and appreciation for the frequent references to Chinese cultural traditions. The illustrations on the other hand, done in watercolor by Alina Chau, were quite cute. My favorite scenes were the more fanciful ones in which the dragon appeared, or the children cuddled massive, imaginary animals. Recommended to anyone looking for children's stories about the process of moving, or featuring Asian-American families, with the proviso that they be aware of the slightly longer-than-usual-for-a-picture-book text.