A Gift for Nai Nai

October 1, 2023
A young girl of Chinese descent learns to crochet a hat for her beloved Nai Nai's birthday. Lyn Lyn's grandmother has a tradition of crocheting a new hat for her every year. With Nai Nai's birthday coming up, Lyn Lyn concocts a plan to return the favor by making her a hat "with a touch of red for good luck." But things don't turn out the way she expects when her stitches come out "too tight. Too loose. Too weird." Struggling, she seeks out her Nai Nai's help, under the ruse that the gift is for her best friend. With perseverance and her Nai Nai's warm guidance and love, Lyn Lyn is able to create a hat that, although a little lopsided, makes her Nai Nai proud. Debut author/illustrator Ung's use of gentle pastel colors paired with soft textures brings an additional layer of cozy warmth to this tale of intergenerational connection. Each stage of Lyn Lyn's crochet journey, from her initial frustration to her renewed determination and creative problem-solving, is sure to resonate with anyone who has ever struggled to pick up a new skill. The book concludes with a crochet pattern for Nai Nai's hat. Nai Nai is depicted using a wheelchair. A sweet story celebrating the special bond between a granddaughter and her grandmother. (Chinese-English glossary) (Picture book. 4-8)

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November 1, 2023

K-Gr 2-With admirable touches showcasing the main character's creative ambition and perseverance, this endearing story highlights the comfort and kindness shared through a special family bond between a child and her grandmother. Lyn Lyn, a young Chinese American girl, wishes to make a particular gift for Nai Nai, her beloved paternal grandma, for her birthday, but struggles to crochet a lucky hat with the same skill as Nai Nai, an expert. With a clever plan in place, Lyn Lyn seeks the unsuspecting Nai Nai's guidance, delighting in the time with her grandma and learning more about the craft of crocheting. Ung effortlessly portrays the strong relationship as a treasured connection through a bright tone of dialogue, with Nai Nai fulfilling the role as a wise mentor who cheers on the determined Lyn Lyn as she slowly masters new techniques. At times, the third person narration heavily relies on the illustrated cues. While elements appear largely flat and sparsely detailed, the easy-to-read facial expressions and consistent, rounded forms with smooth edges and cheerful colors solidly fill the pages and draw attention to the figures' actions, as well as the progress of the project. Bold text represents Lyn Lyn's speech and thoughts, a unique design choice that adds weight to her perspective, though Nai Nai's words will prove equally important. Simple terms related to crocheting and Mandarin words are woven into the story, with a complex set of instructions to crochet a hat at its end. VERDICT With its soft illustrative style and clear portrayal of a loving family bond, this sweet story will prove a comforting read aloud for young readers to share with their beloved grandparents or with any adults who are celebrated as role models in their lives.-Rachel Mulligan

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2023
Preschool-Grade 2 Lyn Lyn is very close with her grandmother, Nai Nai. The child wants to learn to crochet, as her grandmother is excellent at it and creates a new hat for her grandchild every year. Lyn Lyn makes many attempts at learning the craft but runs into the difficulties all newbies encounter. Since she wants to surprise her grandmother with a hat for her birthday, the girl feels she needs to ask for help. The person who comes to mind is, of course, her grandmother, so Lyn Lyn tells Nai Nai that she is crocheting a hat for her best friend who is patient and kind, and thus she gets the help she needs. The sweet ending to Lyn Lyn's story shows that the relationship between the two generations is closer than before as they now share even more in common. Directions for crocheting the hat Lyn Lyn and Nai Nai create are found at the book's conclusion, along with a link to an instructional video.

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