Sher Rill Ng

Xiao Xin's name means "Be Careful," something his overprotective immigrant parents and grandparents say to him over and over. But he believes his name means something else, showing that he is someone who is brave and independent, someone who can get knocked down, but will up again because you're never gonna keep him down. (He's still too young for vodka, lager, and cider drinks though.)

The adorable illustrations make this book irresistible even as it gets a little dark, like the brief show more allusions to the difficult past of the parents and grandparents or the symbolic forms their fears take as they surround Xiao Xin.

While uplifting, it's still all a bit heavy, so more suitable for reading when you have time for a discussion with your children rather than say at bedtime. show less

read as a judge for Aurealis awards for 2019

beautiful, and I like the idea of there being a simple solution, but I find it disingenuous to have a story about a single person succeeding in the face of the climate deniers in power.

A story about an overprotective family who believe the world is a dangerous place for a little boy on his own. This boy is determined and sees his family as not loving him as other families love their children. I recommend this book as it is written in both English and Chinese, and it can be used to show how different cultures experience emotions.