Wild Greens, Beautiful Girl
On the eastern plains of Taiwan, a young girl and her mother pick wild greens before a rainstorm drenches them and their garden. When she goes to pull at the roots of a spiky, stalky weed, she learns that the plant is not what it seems. A lyrical story that shows young readers how to appreciate the bounty of nature and the beauty of identity.
Chinese and Pinyin translations are included in pages and backmatter features additional information on the indigenous Amis people of Taiwan. An Own Voices, Own Stories award winner and Junior Library Guild Selection
| Interest Level | Kindergarten - Grade 3 |
|---|---|
| Reading Level | Grade 1 |
| Dewey | E |
| Lexile | 780L |
| ATOS Reading Level | |
| Guided Reading Level | M |
| Publisher | Sleeping Bear Press |
| Series | Own Voices, Own Stories |
| Language | Chinese, English |
|---|---|
| Available Formats | Hardcover (9781534113152), PDF (9781668945285), ePub (9781668945452), Hosted ebook (9781668945797), Kindle (9781668945629) |
| Copyright | 2024 |
| Number of Pages | 40 |
| Dimensions | 9 x 11 |
| Graphics | Full-color illustrations |
Kirkus - Wild Greens Beautiful Girl
A young girl learns about her people’s history and culture…Though rooted in concrete details, the prose has a lilting quality, brimming with pride for the Amis and their way of life, while the stunning double-spread watercolors capture the lushness of the land…A simple, verdant celebration of heritage, identity, and food.
Publishers Weekly - Wild Greens Beautiful Girl
A child learns about Taiwan’s flora and gains a deeper understanding of family heritage in this lushly illustrated paean to the natural world…Mandarin and Pinyin translations accompany the English text, and concluding notes offer context.
Author: Erica Lee Schlaikjer
Erica Lee Schlaikjer grew up as a mixed-race “Third Culture Kid” in a Foreign Service family, living in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Switzerland, and the United States. Her mother is Falangaw Amis, indigenous to Taiwan. Her father is White American. She writes stories about the joy of belonging, the beauty of fleeting moments, and the wonders of nature. She currently lives with her husband in Los Angeles—the ancestral lands of the Tongva, Tataviam, Serrano, Kizh, and Chumash Peoples.
Illustrator: Cinyee Chiu
Cinyee Chiu is originally from Taiwan, now living in Vancouver, Canada. She got her illustration MFA from Maryland Institute College of Art. She’s always happy to try new things, and likes to make things pretty, playful, and exciting.
Translator: Shan Li Bannai Serasis
| Afterword |
| Educational front/back matter |
| Original artwork |
| Full-color illustrations |