POPO & MEIMEI CAN HELP

A young girl and her grandmother help each other conquer the trials of their shared day.

Meimei (Mandarin for little sister) is working to be independent, but she needs help pouring milk, putting on her jacket, and harvesting green onions. At every turn, her Popo (grandmother) is there to wipe up messes, offer a helping hand, and teach Meimei how to garden. Capable, kind Popo is always ready to offer encouragement and a new activity. “Cheer up!” she tells Meimei after a wheelbarrow spill. “Let’s make dumpling soup.” Though Meimei speaks in English and Popo in Mandarin, the two clearly understand each other. Later, the phone rings. When Popo answers, the English words pouring out of the receiver are illustrated as a scrambled, garbled mess. Seeing Popo’s distress, Meimei realizes that it’s her turn to be the helper. Bright cartoon illustrations and spare text effectively convey the affection and respect that these two have for each other, despite their language barrier. This sweet story offers an introduction to the immigrant experience while celebrating the love between a grandparent and a grandchild. Meimei and Popo’s conversations appear as speech bubbles, with words in simplified Chinese characters, pinyin transliteration, and English.

A moving tribute to the tender moments found in a bilingual, multigenerational household.