Bing’s Cherries

By Livia Blackburne, Julia Kuo (Illustrator)

A modern American tall tale woven by a girl and her father about Ah Bing, the Chinese immigrant behind the Pacific Northwest's most delicious cherries.

You've heard of a Bing cherry, but did you know the story of the Chinese American immigrant for whom the dark, luscious cherry is named?

Long ago, Ah Bing was a father who travelled across the sea from China looking for work. It was in Oregon where he met a man who hired him to work in his orchards, where eventually, Bing cultivated the delicious cherries we know of today.

But what was it that made this man and the cherries he made so special? a young girl wonders as she sits together with her father, enjoying cherries from their backyard. Weaving together cultural memory, historical fact, and her own imagination, the young girl imagines a narrative of Ah Bing that is as larger than life and as sweet as his namesake.

With touching text and lush illustrations, Livia Blackburne and Julia Kuo forge an unforgettable Chinese American folktale that has largely been untold. The backmatter includes a letter from the author and illustrator, as well as a recipe!

Nainai’s Mountain

By Livia Blackburne, Joey Chou (Illustrator)

A Taiwanese-American girl is nervous about visiting Taiwan—until her paternal grandmother, her Nainai, takes her on a mountain-climbing adventure and shows her its wonders.

Traveling from California to Taiwan for the first time, even with her parents and her Nainai around her, is a lot for a little girl to take in. The plane ride lasts forever, she can’t read any of the signs, and she’s worried there will be unfamiliar bugs. 

But then Nainai becomes her tour guide, and Taiwan transforms. As they huff and puff up Nainai’s favorite mountain, stomachs full of bao and juicy sausage, Nainai spins yarns about riding to the movies in pedicabs, eating frozen pineapple, and playing pinball to win snacks. Even the bugs turn out to be more cool than scary.

At the top of the mountain is a surprise: all sorts of people playing and exercising—and they all remember Nainai. The little girl is filled with pride when they can tell just who she is: “your granddaughter!”

Author Livia Blackburne shares an author’s note about the inspiration she drew from childhood visits to Taiwan, her parents’ childhoods there, and her own mountain-climbing grandmother. The deep well of lived experience is evident on every page, and is perfectly evoked by Joey Chou’s intricate, colorful illustration. Whether it’s a reflection of home or a window into somewhere brand-new, kids, grandparents, and everyone in between will love following Nainai to the top of her mountain.

I Dream of Popo

By Livia Blackburne, Julia Kuo (Illustrator)

From New York Times bestselling author Livia Blackburne and illustrator Julia Kuo, here is I Dream of Popo. This delicate, emotionally rich picture book celebrates a special connection that crosses time zones and oceans as Popo and her granddaughter hold each other in their hearts forever.

I dream with Popo as she rocks me in her arms.
I wave at Popo before I board my flight.
I talk to Popo from across the sea.
I tell Popo about my adventures.

When a young girl and her family emigrate from Taiwan to America, she leaves behind her beloved popo, her grandmother. She misses her popo every day, but even if their visits are fleeting, their love is ever true and strong.

A New York Public Library Best Book of 2021
A Booklist Editors' Choice Winner for 2021