Rainbow Shopping

Gr 2-4–On a rainy day, a young Chinese girl accompanies her mother on a shopping trip in New York City. They wander Chinatown and purchase food, candy, and other goods. After riding home on the subway, the young girl has dinner with her mom, dad, and grandma, who lives with the family. Grandma shares stories of her mother, prompting our protagonist to ponder her family history. Based on the author’s lived experience as a first-generation Chinese American, the sometimes text heavy story touches on themes that will resonate with many readers—exploration, immigration, family, childhood. Much like the busy streets of Chinatown, there is a lot to take in: shopping trip, subway, stories, family history. The vibrant illustrations convey the hustle and bustle of the city, where there is always something intriguing to look at. Colored pencils and watercolors are used to create crowded city streets and markets. Vegetables and traditional Chinese treats are lovingly rendered, as are random New Yorkers on the scene, from a man in green Crocs to another with a small Labradoodle in a baby carrier.