Dancing Dumplings for My One and Only

When her grandmother falls ill, a young girl pours her love, memories, and worry into the dumplings her grandmother taught her to make in this heartwarming--and mouthwatering--picture book.

Dumplings dance in water like Grandma moves through tai chi beats: slow, firm, focused. When the autumn leaves are tumbling, there’s nothing better than coming home from the park and helping Grandma roll, fill, and pinch ingots of meat and cabbage. ＂Dancing dumplings for my one and only,＂ Grandma says, scooping them up for her granddaughter. But as the season grows colder, Grandma says she can’t make dumplings for her one and only, not today. The child watches her grandmother wheeze and sneeze in bed, and although her heart da-dubs with fear, she lights incense and keeps her company until the day her grandmother is well enough to dance again--made stronger and healthier by the dumplings her granddaughter now cooks for her. Sumptuously and scrumptiously illustrated by Natelle Quek, Eva Wong Nava’s story captures the wonderful bond between grandchild and grandparent--and how powerful and healing the act of sharing food can be. An author’s note deepens the message of the importance of cultural foods in our relationships to both our heritage and loved ones.

Eva Wong Nava writes stories that explore identity, culture, and belonging, including an award-winning middle-grade novel and several picture books. She has been a speaker at the Asian Festival of Children’s Content on writing about diversity and representing marginalized voices, and she teaches the art of picture book writing at Picture Book Matters. Eva Wong Nava grew up in Southeast Asia and now lives in London.

Natelle Quek has been drawing for as long as she could hold a pencil, but her creative career began in 2016 when she started her small business producing lifestyle products based on her illustrations. Her works reflect constant evolving influences from her heritage and personal experiences, pop culture, and the natural world. Natelle Quek lives in London.