Grandmother's Visit

Summary of Book

Grandmother lives with Grace’s family. She teaches her how to measure water for rice. She tells her stories about growing up in China and together they savor the flavors of her childhood. Grandmother says goodbye when she drops Grace off at school every morning and hello when she picks her up at the end of the day. Then, Grandmother stops walking Grace to and from school, and the door to her room stays closed. Father comes home early to make dinner, but the rice bowls stay full. One day, Grandmother’s room is empty. And one day, Grandmother is buried. After the funeral, Grace’s mom turns on all the outside lights so that Grandmother’s spirit can find its way home for one final goodbye.

Author Biography

Betty Quan is a writer for children’s television programs, including the Discovery Kids production Doki. She wrote Mother Tongue, which was nominated for the Governor General’s Literary Award for Drama. She also adapted Paul Yee’s book Ghost Train for the stage. She is the author of the children's book Grandmother's Visit. She lives in Toronto.

Illustrator Biography

Carmen Mok is an award-winning illustrator with prior experience in product design, hand-lettering and graphic design. After studying studio art at University of Waterloo and design at Sheridan College, she decided to dedicate herself to children's illustration. She is the illustrator of Grandmother's Visit, written by Betty Quan, and Waiting for Sophie, written by Sarah Ellis. Grandmother's Visit was selected as the picture book honor title of the 2018-2019 Asian/Pacific American Award, and made the 2019 short list for the IODE Ontario Jean Throop Book Award. Carmen received the SCBWI Canada East People's Choice Award for Illustration in 2017 and the Exceptional Portfolio Award and the Storyteller Award in 2018. Her work was featured in the SCBWI Canada East Art Show in 2016 and 2017 and the 2018 CANSCAIP Art Show and Illustrator Art Exhibit in Toronto. Carmen lives in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.