FICTION

Piper Chen Sings

by Phillipa Soo & Maris Pasquale Doran (text) & illus. by Qin Leng
Random House Studio. Apr. 2024. 40p. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9780593564691.
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K-Gr 2–Piper Chen is a Chinese American girl who sings all day, everyday (which may be a nod to Soo, Hamilton star, Broadway actress, and singer). But when she is offered a solo in her school chorus concert, her voice is suddenly stopped by a swarm of butterflies. After speaking to her grandmother and learning to reframe these butterflies, Piper’s story ends on a high note. While Soo and Pasquale Doran do not tread much new ground in the “feeling butterflies” territory, the language is both poetic and accessible, providing a useful framework for working through jitters. The illustrations are expressive and whimsical, showing a wonderfully creative use of perspective and movement. Children will be enraptured by the visuals, whether or not they identify with the story.
VERDICT SEL at Broadway levels, this is recommended for collections needing a boost in stories about processing difficult emotions.
Reviewed by Maria Bohan , Apr 01, 2024

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