My Beijing

A 2019 Batchelder Honor Book

Yu'er and her grandpa live in a small neighborhood in Beijing—and it's full of big personalities. There's a story around every corner, and each day has a hint of magic.

In one tale, Yu'er wants to swim in the Special Olympics, a sports competition for people with disabilities. But she and her grandpa don't have a pool! Their trick to help Yu'er practice wows the whole neighborhood. In another story, a friend takes Yu'er to a wild place full of musical insects. Later, Yu'er hears a special story about her grandparents. And in the final story, Yu'er and her grandpa show a cranky painter the sweet side of life.

Commended for Mildred L. Batchelder Award (Children's) 2019

“"When young Yu'er laments, 'People think I'm different,' her grandfather's immediate response, 'Oh, who cares what they think!' sets her free to be just that--and more. She's different because she's physically challenged, but Grampa ensures her mobility via push cart, wooden chair-on-wheels, or even carried on his back. Buoyed by Grampa's playfully devoted support, Yu'er's adventures are magically empowering. Four such endeavors are including here: swimming without water in hopeful preparation for the Special Olympics in 'Yu'er's Dream'; visiting 'Bug Paradise' with a protective new friend; sending 'The Letter' from the present to the past; and nurturing artistic expression with the neighborhood grouch in 'Kids at Heart.' Set in a Beijing hutong--a traditional neighborhood of courtyard houses and alleyways--Yu'er and Grampa make ideal guides. Gauvin's buoyantly translated speech bubbles exude youthful excitement and energy, with occasional explanatory asterisks that explain how Yu'er's name translates to 'fish girl,' or the literary significance of the Ming Dynastic classic, Journey to the West. Presented in sumptuous full color, Jun's exquisite graphics--from perfect realism (a cancelled stamp) to comical specificity (Grampa's exaggerated backside) to the 'natural simplicity' of Yu'er's own drawings--offer nonstop merriment and whimsical delight."--starred, Booklist”

"Jun's exquisite graphics . . . offer nonstop merriment and whimsical delight."—starred, Booklist

Nie Jun began drawing at an early age by copying lianhuanhua (Chinese sequential art). He later discovered the cartooning legends of Europe, Japan, and elsewhere. He lives in Beijing and teaches drawing to university students.

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