A short but hefty list of books that will help bilingual children realize they are not the only ones having to learn or speak two languages. These are both to do with the immigrant experience as well as an appreciation for the power of language.
The New Rooster
Written and illustrated by Rilla Alexander
Perfect for toddlers and younger readers! Answering an ad to give the morning wake-up call, The New Rooster parachutes out of an airplane to a new country, clears his throat and delivers his crow. Except, none of the guests at ZZZ Hotel are conditioned to get up to the sound in his crow/language! A lighthearted immigrant story that highlights the struggle of coming to a new country, learning a new language, and finding your place. The guests of the hotel also speak foreign languages so children will learn that the rooster’s crow sounds different for different people. Does the new rooster succeed in waking up the guests? Find out how.
Du Iz Tak?
Written and illustrated by Carson Ellis
This title speaks a completely made up insect language that both Yago y Mila have loved! The title gives a worm’s eye view into language, spotlighting the day-to-day happenings of an insect neighborhood. Ellis’s vintage approach to fashion combined with her muted tones gives the art a classic feel. Although we are only given one stage set, we learn so much from watching characters come in and out of pages, each repeating the same made-up foreign phrases. There are many details in the minimalist spreads to enjoy while lap-reading, a surprising climax, and a midnight serenade sure to make you want to lose yourself in this miniature world again and again. The cycle of life drives the storyline and is what makes this title so compelling and appealing for adults too.
A Hundred Thousand Welcomes
Written by Mary Lee Donovan, illustrated by Lian Cho
A lyrical prayer that contains the word “welcome” in 13 different languages, some which are the “most commonly spoken in the world.” The text is brief but carries a lot of weight. Being welcoming is not easy nowadays, if ever. One can tell author and illustrator poured sweat and soul to try and make this a non-stereotypical “let’s all get along” type of narrative. Driven by the command to “love thy neighbor”, characters not only welcome, shelter, and feed their neighbors, but pray that their “children’s children [continue to] grow strong in the light.” The book does not read overly ecclesiastical, as we can all relate to bringing positivity and philanthropy into the world.
A pronunciation key is included in the book as well as facts about the languages featured. Cho decided to focus on the many ways people welcome others with food. Her four-page spread of everyone breaking bread around a large table feels more realistic than the stereotypical children holding hands around the world. Cho’s illustrations bring play and joy to Lee Donovan’s transcendent tone, making the book relatable with children.
The Arrival
Written and illustrated by Shaun Tan
Ironically, I am including a wordless title in this foreign-speaking list. This is definitely a darker, heavier read than the titles listed above. I recommend this one for children ages 6 and up. In The Arrival, readers immediately feel disoriented as they are greeted with ambiguous writing. A father leaves his wife and daughter behind in a world reigned by large beasts to seek better fortune in a fantastical “promised land.” The Arrival has won countless awards and accolades & has been turned into theater productions. I’m not surprised!
The first time I laid hands on the book in my mid 20s I was transported to a surreal world than nevertheless embodied exactly how it felt to immigrate as a child to the United States. New sights, new sounds, a language I did not speak. Through his fantastic world & focus on universal body language The Arrival records the (im)migrant experience while rising through the politics.
The graphic novel is broken into five parts. One is the departure; two, the arrival; three, is the protagonist trying to find a job & navigate the new city; the fourth part shows all the mistakes the protagonist makes in his menial jobs; in the concluding fifth part the trio is reunited as the pair arrives by flying balloon as well.
I love that the book does not idealize the present, or the “promised land” of sorts. Tan shows the grueling, tedious aspect of living without fully understanding the language and rules of a new place. The protagonist makes friends and hears their stories of escape & arrival. Everyone makes the best of their situation. There is definitely a bond between immigrants, refugees and displaced people and this shows in the characters’ —including the young daughter’s— willingness to help incomers find their footing in this new land.
I hope to share more of these invented language books with you in the future! I think they are a fun way to reinforce bilingualism while showcasing the dynamic & creative nature of language, which everyone can appreciate!
Biblioterika 