One day in class, Orange Peel--who got her nickname by eating orange peels when she was little--and her classmates learn about China. Everyone starts to ask Orange Peel questions about the country because they know that's where she was born. But she doesn't have all the answers. So Orange Peel joins her mother on her neighborhood errands to find out.
Many of the shops they visit are owned by people who also were born in China. Each has a story to tell Orange Peel. She visits Mr. Fan the tailor, who speaks about silk; Ma Sang, who owns an antiques store and also writes poetry; Mrs. Liu at the flower shop; Mr. Yu, whose restaurant makes "best there ever was" noodle soup; and Jasmine at the ice cream shop. Orange Peel can't wait to tell the kids at school about China's influence on all of these things, but first she discovers a number of gifts that have been slipped into her pocket by the store owners: silk, a poem, a peony, a noodle soup recipe, and a lucky red knot. Orange Peel is overjoyed, as the treasures she's found link her to the place where she was born.
Rose Lewis's text is a wonderful look into China's influence on history and the modern world. Exciting new illustrator Grace Zong brings the story to life through her modern and thoughtful art.
F&P Level: M
F&P Genre: RF Praise for the work of Rose Lewis
Bank Street College Best Children's Books
"Child Magazine" Best Books
Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Awards
BookSense Book of the Year finalist
"Offers abundant reassurances of love to adopted children . . ." --"Publishers Weekly"
"Sweetly sentimental . . . taps into a well of genuine emotion." --"Publishers Weekly"