Purchase to Support Our Program

“Peppered with wry commentary on the often baffling experience of adapting to a new country and a new language, Beijing-born Namioka’s fresh and funny novel serves up a slice of modern, multicultural American life.” –Publishers Weekly

Yang the Youngest and His Terrible Ear

Written by Lensey Namioka
Illustrated by Kees de Kiefte
Published by Yearling Books

Everyone in the Yang family is a talented musician except for nine-year-old Yingtao, the youngest Yang. Even after years of violin lessons from his father, Yingtao cannot make beautiful music. Now that his family has moved from China to Seattle, Yingtao wants to learn English and make new friends at school. Still, he must make time to practice his violin for an important family recital to help his father get more students. Yingtao is afraid his screeching violin will ruin the recital. But he’s even more afraid to tell his family that he has found something he likes better than music. Together he and his new friend Matthew think of a sure way to save the recital. They are certain nothing will go wrong.

Primary ISBN:
Available As: Paperback
Chapter Book, Age 08 or older

Community Represented:

Themes: , , , ,

Setting: United States (Seattle WA)

Character’s New Arrival/New American Status: Immigrant

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

Click here for details about how we define our titles.

Engagement Projects & Resources:

Share your favorite resources for this book with info@imyourneighborbooks.org.