I had the pleasure of meeting children’s book author/illustrator,
Joyce Wan, at the Society
of Book Writers and Illustrators conference last month. Though her debut
book Greetings
from Kiwi and Pear (Blue Apple Books) was released in 2009, I just recently
discovered it. I loved its themes of travel and culture, and Wan is also an
inspiration to Asian-American authors and illustrators for her impressive work.
The first thing parents will notice when picking up Greetings from Kiwi and Pear is its cute
cover depicting two adorable monkeys holding a postcard with the book’s title.
The cover art is representative of Wan’s signature style of bold, clean, and
colorful art that appeals to children.
Greetings from Kiwi
and Pear follows the monkey duo as they travel the globe. The rhyming
sentences flow effortlessly, making it fun and easy for children to follow
along on Kiwi and Pear’s adventures to South America, Europe, Asia,
and more. It’s a great way to introduce world travel to young children.
 |
| Greetings from Kiwi and Pear features fold-out pages like this one depicting a visit to the Great Wall of China. Photo: Maria Adcock |
According to the publisher, Greetings from Kiwi and Pear is recommended for children 4-8 years
old. However, I think parents can still read this book to infants and toddlers as
they’ll still be drawn to the intriguing illustrations and rhythmic text (just
don’t let them rip the non-board pages).
Since her debut book, Wan has published You Are My Cupcake and We
Belong Together (both published by Scholastic/Cartwheel in Fall 2011). In
addition to her writing, Wan manages the design studio, Wanart, which she founded in 2003. Fans can purchase
greeting cards and gifts there with designs based on her illustrations.
I recommend Greetings
from Kiwi and Pear by Joyce Wan, and think it would make a great gift for
any child.
Where to Find
Greetings from Kiwi and Pear: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, IndieBound,
Wanart (signed copies)
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