Comfort Read: Grace Lin Books

I love children's fiction. I had more of an "excuse" to read it when my sons were younger, but now they're teens, so I own that I still read picture books through YA (and I read books for adults too). One of my favorite authors (and my sons' when they were younger) is award-winning writer and illustrator Grace Lin. Her books, from picture books to early readers (children loved the Ling and Ting early readers when I worked at the library) to middle grade novels, are wonderful and comforting reads.

Some of my sons' favorites were Lin's illustrations in the Rosanne Thong picture books Round Is a Mooncake, One Is a Drummer, and Red Is a Dragon, as well as Lin's The Ugly Vegetables. The colorful and vital pictures in Thong's books drew them into the rhyming text while also reinforcing basic concepts of numbers, colors, and shapes. Another of Lin's books they enjoyed, and still remember, is Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, a fairy-tale like chapter book full of heart and adventure.

I particularly like Lin's middle grade novels, The Pacy Lin trilogy, books about family, friendship, and fun. The covers are recently redesigned to photo covers, but I remember the old illustrated covers. I like both, and the words inside! Pacy's friend in the series is based on Lin's real-life friend, Alvina, and they now have a neat podcast that you can listen to, which I find comforting.

Links will take you to Amazon (except Lin's name, which will take you to her website), but all these books are available at my local library, and maybe yours. If not, request them for your library to purchase! Have you read any of Grace Lin's books?

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