Yaya and the Dan-Tats

A weekly ritual between grandfather and grandchild turns a new corner in Koo and Xiao’s brisk double picture book debut. Every Saturday, the book’s unnamed young narrator and their mother bring Yaya a box of egg tarts—dan-tats. “We used to eat them in the park until Yaya moved into his nursing home,” the grandchild explains, noting that while they don’t share a language with Chinese-speaking Yaya, the two have the pastries in common. When Yaya isn’t in his room, the child spots him down the hallway in his wheelchair and gives him the box before the man takes off (“ZOOOOM!”). The youth expresses fear of walking the nursing home halls alone (“Sometimes the old gong gongs fart and burp and cough really loudly”). But unwilling to miss dan-tat time, the child follows Yaya’s literal crumb trail, visiting the rooms of those with whom the treats are shared. Via candid narration and a decorative, dollhouse-like setting, the creators demonstrate that loving bonds need have no barriers. Secondary characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 4–7. (Sept.)