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“A sweet introduction to a significant Chinese tradition, glimpsed through the eyes of a loving family.”

—Kirkus Reviews

“Liao and Wen’s picture book offers a touching introduction to a Chinese holiday that celebrates and pays respect to loved ones in the afterlife….showing young readers that loved ones who passed on have never left them.”

—The Bulletin

With You In Spirit: A Qing Ming Story

Written by Jenny Liao
Illustrated by Lenny Wen
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers

Join a young girl and her family as they prepare for Qing Ming: cooking favorite dishes and gathering everything they need to visit Yeh Yeh’s grave. The girl is worried because her memories of Yeh Yeh are fading and wonders if he is forgetting her too.

As the family sweeps and clears debris from Yeh Yeh’s grave, burn incense and joss paper, the little girl has an offering of her own. She shares about her adventures and accomplishments from the past year, burning a drawing of a bicycle, so that Yeh Yeh can ride like they used to at the park. With every story and offering, she feels closer to her grandfather. When the family gathers for a picnic at the grave, indulging in Yeh Yeh’s favorite foods—it is a tender moment of togetherness.

A heartwarming story about honoring and celebrating those who are gone.

Primary ISBN: 9780593806975
Publication Date: February 2026
Available As: Hardcover, eBook
Picture Book , Age 03 or older

Community Represented:

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Setting: Unspecified

Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: Unknown Arrival

Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience

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