Dancing Dumplings for My One and Only

Written by Eva Wong Nava
Illustrated by Natelle Quek
Published by Candlewick

Dumplings dance in water like Grandma moves through tai chi beats: slow, firm, focused. When the autumn leaves are tumbling, there’s nothing better than coming home from the park and helping Grandma roll, fill, and pinch ingots of meat and cabbage. “Dancing dumplings for my one and only,” Grandma says, scooping them up for her granddaughter. But as the season grows colder, Grandma says she can’t make dumplings for her one and only, not today.

The child watches her grandmother wheeze and sneeze in bed, and although her heart da-dubs with fear, she lights incense and keeps her company until the day her grandmother is well enough to dance again—made stronger and healthier by the dumplings her granddaughter now cooks for her. Sumptuously and scrumptiously illustrated by Natelle Quek, Eva Wong Nava’s story captures the wonderful bond between grandchild and grandparent—and how powerful and healing the act of sharing food can be. An author’s note deepens the message of the importance of cultural foods in our relationships to both our heritage and loved ones.