Ming and Her Poppy

PreS-Gr 1— This gentle companion story to Ming Goes to School features the little girl spending time with her grandfather throughout the seasons. The work shines with the love between the characters and the comfortable familiarity of a routine. The minimalistic, poetic text informs readers that "Ming and Poppy know their way" as they ride the bus, tell each other stories, visit the park, make new friends, and relish treats at their traditional eating spot. The text is understated, leaving plenty of room for the luminous watercolor illustrations to tell the story. The stark white backgrounds allow the impressionistic paintings to draw the eye clearly to Ming and her grandfather, who generally appear in the foreground in sharper focus than their surroundings. With just a few strokes of her brush, Löfdahl depicts Ming's mood, whether she is joyfully playing in the leaves, feeling sad about being left out by the older girls, or smiling broadly as she makes a new friend. And always, Poppy is there, her companion, friend, guide, and protector as she shares her delights, hears stories, and enjoys all that the big, diverse city has to offer.