BING'S CHERRIES

Blackburne and Kuo explore the Chinese immigrant roots of the typically American Bing Cherry.

A father and child enjoy the irresistible cherries that appear every July in their backyard. “We should be grateful to Ah Bing for his cherries,” Daddy comments. His facts are few: Bing “was Chinese like us…he was an orchard man from long ago.” That night, the inspired youngster imagines Bing’s life. The “really tall” Bing arrived in San Francisco, finding work in Oregon. His “rich and deep” voice encouraged trees to grow “taller just so they could listen to him.” Despite his success, he missed his wife and seven sons in China. While racism and violence loomed, Bing sang his sadness, anger, and a longing for peace into his seeds. His music resulted in fruit-laden trees in a mere week. A single tear produced the first Bing tree, its cherries “a red as deep as Bing’s love for his family and friends.” After 30 years, he finally sailed home. Chinese American author Blackburne creates a poignant origin story, with plenty of empathic “I hopes” for Bing’s contented happiness. Taiwanese American Kuo’s bold art, captured in blues, reds, browns, black, is reminiscent of woodblock prints, resonating with geometric enhancements—swirls, dots, circles. Backmatter includes illuminating artist’s and author’s notes, more information on the real Ah Bing, further reading, and a sweet recipe.

Scant historical details are convincingly transformed into a tall tale revealing the origins of a delicious food.