I Dream of Popo

My two year old daughter does not understand why I keep crying when I read this book (three times as of this posting). The story is beautifully and sensitively told, with illustrations that are somehow simple while evoking very specific and emotional detail. To my Taiwanese folks, the illustrations will make you feel the humidity and smell the frying oil and motorcycle exhaust. For anybody with immigrant roots, diaspora history, grandparents living or departed, bilingual consciousness, and/or a beating heart, please get this book. It is a gorgeous and heart wrenching work of art.

My daughter and I both cried when reading it. So heartfelt and wonderful. It is a beautiful story that shows love and our relationships carry with us always. The illustrations are just incredible and so well designed. Highly recommend.

This gorgeous book celebrates the special relationship between a child and her grandmother, 婆婆 (Pópo). Through simple but meaningful, rhythmic text, we learn about a little girl who immigrates from Taiwan to the United States. She says goodbye to 婆婆 as she transitions to a new school, language, and culture. When the girl is able to travel to Taiwan to visit 婆婆 again, she notices many changes. 婆婆 has gray hair, and their languages are different. But despite the distance physically and culturally, they are still beautifully connected. Most of the book is in English, but some words are in traditional Chinese characters. [Originally reviewed on chalkacademy(dot)com]

My story echoes that of the protagonist, a child immigrant experience that my American-born child and spouse will never understand. Nonetheless, we are all drawn to the story line and resonate with the universal theme of family, love, loneliness, longing, and loss both as individuals as well as a family. I have yet gone through the whole book without tearing us, as I recognize the familiar sight of Dai Tong rice cooker, streets of Taiwan, and the gui hua blossom, and remembering how beautiful my island is. There is so much sadness and my longing to see my loved ones on the other side of the world, as well as my growing identification with this country that I've come to call home. This story allows me to explore those complex emotions with my young child, and I expect our conversations to grow and evolve as they get older. Beautifully written and exquisitely illustrated picture book - and I would recommend this to all who wish to learn about other cultures, the immigrant experience from the perspective of a child, and those who just are in the mood for a good children's book!

Beautiful and poignant, this book brings iconic places and familiar settings of Taiwan to life. I love Taiwan and I miss my family, and reading this to my little ones is a small way of passing on some of that same love and fond memories. I feel like it touches on the Taiwanese identity immigrating to the states very well. I cried.

I bought this beautiful book as a gift for my Taiwanese friend and her daughter (after requesting and reading the library copy many many times to my own kids). She had tears, telling me how perfect it was. Her daughter would run over to her Ah-man every page to point things out to her. Having lost my own mother just a few years ago, I get choked up at the ending every time. This is a beautiful story, highlighting what it’s like to move to America, being an ocean away from someone you love, is a wonderful story. And with a bit about Lunar New Year, it’s perfect for that time of year as well.

The story is so touching and it reminds me of my own grandma. I love the art style and the Chinese letters here and there. The glossary in the end is perfect to introduce some Chinese words to kids and the author's notes from the author and the illustrator shared their own immigrant experience and I teared up reading their stories. Highly recommend.

I was very lucky to read an early version of this gorgeous picture book! So beautiful and heartwarming!

Love this book, bring tear to my eyes verytime when I read this book. I came from Taiwan, I can relate myself with every page in this book. I don't have a significant one like PoPo in the book, but the feeling about having someone that was close to you but now just getting further away and the feeling of hometown become somewhere you only get to visit not even once a year.

Fantastic, vivid illustrations; Very emotional -- My two year old doesn't quite understand (or why his parents tear up towards the end of the story) but its a great story of bicultural upbringing (and it helps if you're Taiwanese and/or immigrant).

My two year old daughter does not understand why I keep crying when I read this book (three times as of this posting). The story is beautifully and sensitively told, with illustrations that are somehow simple while evoking very specific and emotional detail. To my Taiwanese folks, the illustrations will make you feel the humidity and smell the frying oil and motorcycle exhaust. For anybody with immigrant roots, diaspora history, grandparents living or departed, bilingual consciousness, and/or a beating heart, please get this book. It is a gorgeous and heart wrenching work of art.

My daughter and I both cried when reading it. So heartfelt and wonderful. It is a beautiful story that shows love and our relationships carry with us always. The illustrations are just incredible and so well designed. Highly recommend.

This gorgeous book celebrates the special relationship between a child and her grandmother, 婆婆 (Pópo). Through simple but meaningful, rhythmic text, we learn about a little girl who immigrates from Taiwan to the United States. She says goodbye to 婆婆 as she transitions to a new school, language, and culture. When the girl is able to travel to Taiwan to visit 婆婆 again, she notices many changes. 婆婆 has gray hair, and their languages are different. But despite the distance physically and culturally, they are still beautifully connected. Most of the book is in English, but some words are in traditional Chinese characters. [Originally reviewed on chalkacademy(dot)com]

My story echoes that of the protagonist, a child immigrant experience that my American-born child and spouse will never understand. Nonetheless, we are all drawn to the story line and resonate with the universal theme of family, love, loneliness, longing, and loss both as individuals as well as a family. I have yet gone through the whole book without tearing us, as I recognize the familiar sight of Dai Tong rice cooker, streets of Taiwan, and the gui hua blossom, and remembering how beautiful my island is. There is so much sadness and my longing to see my loved ones on the other side of the world, as well as my growing identification with this country that I've come to call home. This story allows me to explore those complex emotions with my young child, and I expect our conversations to grow and evolve as they get older. Beautifully written and exquisitely illustrated picture book - and I would recommend this to all who wish to learn about other cultures, the immigrant experience from the perspective of a child, and those who just are in the mood for a good children's book!

Beautiful and poignant, this book brings iconic places and familiar settings of Taiwan to life. I love Taiwan and I miss my family, and reading this to my little ones is a small way of passing on some of that same love and fond memories. I feel like it touches on the Taiwanese identity immigrating to the states very well. I cried.

I bought this beautiful book as a gift for my Taiwanese friend and her daughter (after requesting and reading the library copy many many times to my own kids). She had tears, telling me how perfect it was. Her daughter would run over to her Ah-man every page to point things out to her. Having lost my own mother just a few years ago, I get choked up at the ending every time. This is a beautiful story, highlighting what it’s like to move to America, being an ocean away from someone you love, is a wonderful story. And with a bit about Lunar New Year, it’s perfect for that time of year as well.

The story is so touching and it reminds me of my own grandma. I love the art style and the Chinese letters here and there. The glossary in the end is perfect to introduce some Chinese words to kids and the author's notes from the author and the illustrator shared their own immigrant experience and I teared up reading their stories. Highly recommend.

I was very lucky to read an early version of this gorgeous picture book! So beautiful and heartwarming!

Love this book, bring tear to my eyes verytime when I read this book. I came from Taiwan, I can relate myself with every page in this book. I don't have a significant one like PoPo in the book, but the feeling about having someone that was close to you but now just getting further away and the feeling of hometown become somewhere you only get to visit not even once a year.

Fantastic, vivid illustrations; Very emotional -- My two year old doesn't quite understand (or why his parents tear up towards the end of the story) but its a great story of bicultural upbringing (and it helps if you're Taiwanese and/or immigrant).

This is such a beautiful story, which resembles with my own very much. My kids enjoy reading it very much and so did I. The illustration is so beautiful and touching. Strongly recommend this book to any one that is interested in knowing Taiwanese culture, or learning about how love connects us together despite the distance.

I bought this book for our family because some of our extended family spent a couple of decades in Taiwan. This touching and delightful book was a hit with everyone.

My kids love this book and really loved reading with their Popo. It reminds their Popo of great childhood memories. Excellent book!

I was excited to read this book with my toddlers today. They loved it. The pictures are beautiful. For those with a Chinese immigrant heritage, the book is very relatable and stirs many emotions. Highly recommend.

I loved that this story is my story and it’s told in a way that my young child can understand. We read it every week! I recommend.

great book to teach kids about grandparents

Never thought a children’s book could make me tear up so much. What a wonderful story and fantastic illustration! Highly recommend!

As a first-generation Taiwanese-Hongkonger-American this book was such a treasure to read. I teared up while reading, thinking of my grandparents and extended family abroad. I thought about what it's like to have grown up oceans apart, and the beautiful memories we share in spite of that. If you and your young ones ever wanted to see your experience reflected beautifully in a book, or if you'd like to broaden your horizons by reading about experiences different to your own, please pick up a copy!

I came across "I Dream of Popo" online and was so surprised because my daughters also call my mother, who lives in Taiwan, "Popo". I ordered the book immediately and my daughters love it so much. They feel the same way about switching the two languages, and miss all the delicious foods that beautifully illustrated in the book. When it's my turn to read the book (after kids, as always) I sobbed all the way through.. It reminds me of my own grandma, who passed away when I was hustling and bustling at my first jobs in the U.S. This story is about the most caring, loving affection between kids and their grand parents despite the distance and different languages. Highly recommended to all.

Poignantly written, this book reminds me of my own A-Ma and life in Taiwan with my grandparents. It is illustrated beautifully, with many details specific to Taiwan, from the Taipei 101 building, to the scooters on the streets, to the Tatung rice cooker in Popo's kitchen. While certain aspects will resonate with Taiwanese-American readers in particular, the book can also start conversations about moving from one culture to another, as well as how we maintain connections over physical distance...something we're ever aware of these days!

I adored I DREAM OF POPO ❤️ Though I was lucky to live in the same town as my grandparents, I felt guilty and missed them terribly when I moved away for college and work. I was teary through this whole story and loved all the little details of Chinese/Taiwanese culture in the illustrations. I even bought an extra copy to send to my mom who lost her own mother (my Popo) when I was a child. Thank you for creating this beautiful story!

I admit, I was attracted to this book due to its title and having "Popo" in it. The story was decent, and I don't want to spoil anything, but I'm just not quite sure of the ending. Maybe it's my own fault just for not figuring it.

I love this book and I also love my popo!! My annoyance and disappointment is with how Amazon packaged the two copies I bought. The book sleeves but also made indents at the front binding, and the book sleeves also were curved. Amazon needs to package books with sleeves better.

I was extremely excited to see a book with the word ‘po-po’ in it. I bought this book to read to my (1/4 Chinese) daughter who calls my mom Po-po. It did not disappoint! It had all the emotions of generational families with a sweetness that could be understood by a toddler. Even better it showed the grandchild talking to their po-po on video chat/FaceTime, which is exactly what we do! So glad this book was written.

This book is really great, but sad. I bought it for my children since they weren't able to hang out with their grandmother (due to COVID). It's a very touching story. Highly recommend it!

I bought this book, because we call my grandma Popo and we move to USA, so I wanted to read to my little daughter... is so cute, sensible that I finally started to cry while I was reading it to her. ❤️

This is a book that I wish I had when I was growing up. Like many others here, I teared up while reading it for the first time. I’m glad I can share it with my kids.

really cute book for those who live far from their family members. I know it was based on the authors experience but I woudve preferred if it was more general rather than specific locations etc.

Beautiful book, very well written, has a section about the author and her relationship with her po po at the end of the boom

My daughter (and her popo) love this book!

Such a simple yet touching sorry with with good Chinese cultural references. But even for parents not interested in exploring this specific culture with their children, the sorry is very relatable as the underlying theme about the bond between children and grandparents is universal.

I ordered the book to read to my girls and I ended up bawling my eyes out. This book really gave me the feels.. reminded me of my own childhood growing up in the states and visiting my own grandma back in Taiwan.

I am 42 years old and have no children, I bought this book for myself lol 😊. I absolutely loved it, and it brought tears to my eyes. My Popo is from China and she just turned 90 this past August. I am so blessed to still have her in my life. Love love love this book!!

Beautiful illustrations! The story is about a young girl who immigrated to America and the grandmother she left in Taiwan. Lovely story but the ending strongly suggests the Po Po dies. Not sure it’s right for young children who are close to their grandmas who are still alive- may make them anxious something may happen to their grandmas.

This book makes me miss Taiwan so much. Wonderful story and pictures. My 3-year old daughter enjoys the book too.

great book for teaching the little ones stories that reflect their heritage

Beautifully written and illustrated.

Beautiful story ❤

I didn't like the illustrations. The content was disappointing because it wasn't culturally as rich as I hoped it would be.

Livia Blackburne’s I DREAM OF POPO is a gift in so many ways. It celebrates the unbreakable bond between granddaughter and grandmother (PoPo), charting the growth and natural progression of age for the main character. But it’s also a gift to the Asian-American AND immigrant experience, as Livia carefully details what it means for her young MC to be an immigrant, and to balance the love she has for her PoPo and her homeland, and her new life. In a few simple words, Livia paints that in-between space that so many immigrants can understand - feeling caught between cultures. This is a gorgeous book, that packs a lifetime of meaning into a few simple words. Get it. You won’t regret it. I hope we see more of these books from Livia.

Oh, my heart. I was incredibly close with my Granny and this sweet story about a young girl and her Popo had me feeling simultaneous love and sadness. Audiences watch as the young girl and her Popo are separated when she and her nuclear family emigrate from Taiwan to San Diego. Leaving her grandmother behind is difficult, especially as she experiences a new world and learns a new language. Thankfully, the two keep their strong connection via phone calls and video chats. When the girl visits her Popo, she’s surprised to see how much she’s aged and changed since the last time they were together—but the hugs and love remain the same. It’s evident that regardless of the distance, the two will hold each other in their hearts forever. The story is an emotional one, but a wonderful celebration of familial love. The author lets the audience in on Taiwanese culture and things that were important to her growing up. The text is accompanied by gorgeous, detailed illustrations. I love the vintage feel of them! I chose to share this one in celebration of Lunar New Year, but this is a perfect read year-round, and I know we’ll visit it again and again!

When a girl and her family emigrate from Taiwan to San Diego, she leaves behind her beloved Popo, her grandmother. I DREAM OF POPO is an emotional rich picture book that celebrates a special connection that crosses oceans as Popo and her granddaughter hold each other in their hearts forever. What a beautiful picture book! Blackburne paints the Taiwanese culture and tradition with such accuracy and the whole book exuded familiarity. Being of Taiwanese descent, it felt like a journey back to home - iconic building (Taipei 101), timeless small village, cultural lullaby, Chinese New year traditions, everyday language and definitely the food. Because you can't mention Taiwan and not think about the food! As the young girl learns new culture while living in America, she also dreams of Popo and all the Taiwanese elements that symbolize her grandmother - Popo reminds her of identity and roots. The nuanced colors and textures in the drawings tasted home and gave me nostalgic feels. At the end, the author and illustrator's note delivers their #ownvoices thoughts and many experiences resonated with me. [ I received a complimentary copy from the publisher - Mackidsbooks - in exchange for an honest review ]

"I Dream of Popo" is a beautiful, heart-rending story about the special bond between a little girl and her grandmother. Told from the girl's perspective, we follow the growth of the grandparent-grandchild relationship from the little girl's baby-/toddler-hood to when the girl had and her parents had to move far away from Popo. This is a universal and relatable story for anyone who can't live near their grandparents and extended family, especially immigrants. Written in the first person lyrical voice, the words are simple, yet touching and heartfelt. I love the details of the illustrations and the portrayal of Taiwanese culture. My favorite spread is where the little girl and Popo are making dumplings at home. It is reminiscent of the time when I tried to "help" my own Popo in the kitchen as a little girl. I adore books that explore the undeniably special relationship between grandparents and grandchildren. With modernization and our jobs bringing us all over the world, "I Dream of Popo" is a wonderful reminder for us to cherish our elders and familial relationships. As an adult, this book makes me feel wistful about how the modern economy and society can force families to be apart. While gathering and reuniting with family during the holidays are important, I feel that being with family on non-holidays (doing quotidian things together and supporting one another regularly) is equally important, if not more so. The memories of the daily activities we do with our beloved family may seem insignificant or unimportant, but the sense of closeness and being loved by family every day cannot be replaced by elaborate holiday gatherings.

As a second-generation Taiwanese American (daughter of immigrants), while this didn't mirror my own experience, it represented an experience close to my heart and brought me close to my own heritage/ roots in ways that I didn't see reflected when I was a child myself. I love reading this with my daughter and telling her of my mother and grandmother who both have passed, and who both were Taiwanese transnational immigrants to the US. This book allows us to dream of our missing elders together and brings beauty to our identities as Taiwanese American. I am so grateful for the affirming representation in this book. The story made me tear up and the illustrations are beautiful, whether you are connected with Taiwanese culture of not, it's a lovely story of bonds not broken by distance or separation.

A young Taiwanese girl and her Popo (grandmother) are very close, and share many special routines and traditions together. So it's extra difficult for her when she and her family move around the world to San Diego and her Popo stays in Taiwan. Thanks to technology, the girl gets to share meals with her Popo (though for her it's breakfast and for Popo: dinner) and tell her all about her new adventures. She navigates learning English and realizes how tricky it can be to hold space for multiple languages and cultures at once. But when she gets to travel back to Taiwan to see Popo again, much remains the same and some things are different (Popo is older, more gray.) As time goes on, Popo becomes sick, and the girl feels incredibly sad that she can't be with her or care for her. She dreams of her grandmother, and holds close all the things they shared. This is a beautiful take on the immigrant experience, the difficulties of being in two cultures at once, and the things we carry with us wherever we go. Both the author and illustrator are Taiwanese-American women speaking from their own unique experiences. Be sure to read their notes at the end of the story. My kids and I loved this beautiful, touching book.

I love this book. It is so heartfelt and beautiful. The author and illustrator intertwine heart and culture, sadness and hope in a beautiful way. I moved to the United States when I was an adult, but my daughter was just four years old. It was so hard for her too. Many kids can relate to this tale of love that can transcend oceans and languages. Thanks for the Arc for my honest review.

The picture book is about a little girl’s relationship with her popo (grandmother). When she moves from Taiwan to America, the relationship continues, but not in the same way, and they both miss each other. And then Popo becomes ill and passes away, but the girl still holds Popo in her heart and in her dreams. Did I cry? Yes, I cried. It's a beautiful book, from the lovely story to the equally lovely illustrations.

An inseparable granddaughter and her Popo adapt to a new long-distance relationship across the sea. While this book brings another treasured and relatable experience for many, the shorter text invites a wider range of interest from reading aloud in the classroom to lapsit reads with younger children. Integration of video chatting is much welcomed in picture books for this young generation and is well executed by Julia Kuo. With 2-4 sentences per spread, Blackburne and Kuo have created a truly magnificent story.

♡ Baby Austin says: My Mummy and I read, I Dream of Popo. The illustrations made me so happy to see celebrations of my Chinese culture especially the delicious food (I get to start solids 1 month from now!) When I saw that the little girl also video chats with her Popo, I clapped because we do that every day too! I miss my Popo, I haven't met her yet, but I dream of Popo too. My Mummy gets teary eyed at the end when she reads it and tells me this is a very special and timely story. Babbles and spit up, Baby Austin

I Dream of Popo is a tender and beautiful book about a young girl and her Popo (grandmother). The narrator shares sweet memories of being with Popo and also the experience of moving across the world from someone you love so much. She moves from Taiwan to San Diego and learns the new language but never forgets the fragrance of Popo’s gui hua blossoms, the taste of her dumplings, or the feel of her hugs. When Popo falls ill and is longer with her, the girl is still able to hold onto their love through her dreams and memories. ❤️ The emotion in this book is so real and beautiful. I absolutely loved the illustrations- especially the last page where Popo and her granddaughter are hugging ❤️ The author and illustrator share notes in the back and how their own experiences inspired pieces of the story, as well as more details of Chinese and Taiwanese culture. I loved reading these notes and it makes the whole book more meaningful. Such a powerful book with wonderful message of love ❤️ Definitely recommend for all ages!

Just like author Livia Blackburne, I was also born in Taiwan & came to the US. at a young age. However, I was fortunate that my grandparents also came to the US. In fact, unlike other immigrant families, my grandparents actually came to the US first & settled down on the East Coast, & then we joined them a few years later. I grew up being taken care of by my grandparents - esp my grandma (I call her Lao Lao 姥姥 in her native Northeast China dialect), as my mom was busy working. So ~ I know, understand, & cherish how special the grandma-grandchild relationship is. You don’t have to be a Taiwan immigrant or any immigrant to be able to relate to this story - anytime you experience a separation from your beloved grandparents, or any loved ones, you will understand this feeling & the story told in I DREAM OF POPO. I esp love the details that are very Taiwan-specific by illustrator Julia Kuo. I love how she put in that eponymous Tatung 大同 rice cooker, which everyone has in Taiwan, & even many of us here in the US have. I’ve had my own Tatung rice cooker for about 20 years now & I would not give it up for any of those fancy, electronic rice cookers. Also, I was fortunate to have ordered this book signed & personalized by Livia & Julia. I chose to have the book made out to me, an adult now in her 40s. Why? The answer is simple - when I was growing up, there were hardly any Asian American authors, much less any books written about Asian American experiences. This book is a gift to myself, to the 6 year old me who came to the US & couldn’t find any stories about the Taiwan immigrant experience or about people that looked like me.

It seems like a large portion of the population in the USA doesn't understand the debate at the core of discontinued old books by a guy who wasn't a real doctor. Children's literature has grown a lot the past few decades and more stories deserve to written - by as many voices as possible. In I DREAM OF POPO, a young girl leaves Taiwan to live in San Diego, USA. "Po Po" is the word for maternal grandmother; a word that stirs my own memories of my own Pau-Pau. The young Taiwanese girl now in San Diego misses her grandma's dumplings, she misses speaking Chinese to her grandma, she misses talking, and holding her grandmother. It's a simple story of love and connection that author Livia Blackburne based upon her experiences as a Taiwanese American immigrant, and Julia Kuo's gorgeous artwork carries the words in direct colors and meaningful details. It's 2021, teachers and parents. Read more books like I DREAM OF POPO to our kids, books with heart and authentic stories.

A wonderful story of a close relationship between grandmother and grandchild, beautiful times together and a special connection that transcends time, borders and languages. From cover to cover, it exudes an exquisite nostalgia that we quite frankly can’t stop thinking about. One of our absolute favorites this year. Don’t miss this one!

I have to admit that this book made my mom and I ball like babies. My mom was born in Taiwan so the thoughtful illustrations brought memories flooding back. For me, born and raised in the US, the Chinese cultural norms I grew up with were perfectly caught in the illustrations (shoes by the front door, house slippers, Chinese grocery store calendar on the wall, “lucky” plants). 🧧 I Dream of Popo is the story of a granddaughter and her special connection with Popo. It’s especially poignant in this time where families are separated because of the pandemic. A must-read for any grandmothers/grandchildren! 🎋

Over the weekend we read the touching story I Dream of Popo. Relatable from the life changing flight from Taiwan to the US, but in our case Guangzhou to LAX, the evolving relationship with a grandparent as you age, and more. I couldn’t read aloud the last couple pages on account of all my tears, but thank you for sharing this precious story with the world. I look forward to the next time I get to visit with my grandmother in my dreams. Check it out, published by Roaring Brook Press.

Have you or your child built a special bond with a grandparent? I Dream of Popo is a sweet story of a girl and her grandmother. The girl is moving to American, while her beloved Popo stays in Taiwan. They find ways to keep their special connection with each other by video calling. This rich story is written by Livia Blackburne who was inspired by her own life to write this story. The beautiful, detailed pictures are by Julia Kuo.

This rich book works through the emotions of a child leaving behind her grandmother Poco as she migrates from Tawai to the United States. She video chats with Poco and visits her, though she finds it harder to speak with her in her native tongue, her mother tells her she can still hug her the same. Towards the end of the story Poco becomes sick and then the girl has happy dreams of her. I appreciated that the story could offer children comfort when being apart from a relative or when a relative passes away, and while it's implied it never outright says that Poco dies, so children do not have to have that conversation if they are not ready for it. Find me reviewing books on instagram - @picturebooksandlove.

My favorite part of the book is the bond Popo and her granddaughter have. Here’s an excerpt: I dream with Popo as she rocks me in her arms. I wave at Popo before I board my flight. I talk to Popo from across the sea. I tell Popo about my adventures. This is the perfect book to share when grandparents and grandchildren, I’m so glad I’m able to share it with you!

I am a Third Culture Kid from Taiwan. I spent ten years of my most formative years growing up in the bustling neighborhoods of Taipei, hearing the incessant honking and pitter-patter of scooters, smelling the symphony of aromas on the street and tasting the bounty that is my home. I grew up with one set of grandparents in Taiwan, my popo and gong gong, and while my maternal grandmother passed away while I was still home, I still dream of her. After being away from home and from my family for the last three years due to COVID, reading this book was like a slice of joy. Seeing the pictures reminded me of the frenetic landscapes burned in my eyes; I could taste the food and feel the hugs, it was like I, as a 26 year old, went home in a couple of pages. This book is for those who long for their families, their homes, and while it resonates deeply with those from Taiwan, the stories of dreaming of family are found across the world.

My daughter is very close with my mother who lives out of state so I thought this would be a good choice for my daughter. Overall, we both enjoy this book - the illustrations are lovely and my daughter relates to loving her grandmother. It has a great intro to some Mandarin phrases and Taiwanese culture. However, the grandmother getting older and sick is sad. I don't think my daughter has realized the meaning behind this (she's only 2). We talk through it saying that if her Nonna was sick, that her calling Nonna would make Nonna feel better.

I don’t think I’ve ever felt more known by a book than this one. I bought this for my daughter, but it’s really for me. I related to it as a Taiwanese-American, who has lived in both countries. The longing for a person, a language, and a place brought tears to my eyes. What a gift!

I DREAM OF POPO is about a warm relationship between a little girl and her grandmother. The young girl and her family emigrate from Taiwan to San Diego in the US and she leaves behind her Popo. It is about how their relationship endures across time and distance. Taiwanese culture and language are also wonderfully woven into the story. A wonderful book to share during Asian American Heritage Month, Grandparents Day or anytime of the year.

I bought this book to share with my first grade class. It is definitely a tear jerker! A young girl and her family are emigrating from Taiwan to America. Unfortunately, she has to leave her Popo behind, but the distance cannot break the bond they have built. Although thousands of miles away, the girl and her Popo still talk - she shares about her new school and learning a new language. She goes back to Taiwan to visit, but the girl finds speaking to her Popo strange - the words feel strange in her mouth. She notices that her Popo is getting smaller and her hair is more white. She prays for Popo when she hears she is sick. She dreams of Popo coming to her in her sleep. This book is a must have!! Although physically separated, the girl and Popo will always love and care for one another. Their love still shines even when the girl finds it difficult to communicate. It beautifully depicts the love between the girl and Popo!

This lovely book about the special relationship between a young girl and her beloved Popo reminded me of the deep love shared between me and my own grandma, and between my children and their grandparents. Even though the young girl and her Popo are separated by a move, their love remains. The evocative text pairs perfectly with the beautiful illustrations to create a truly moving and heartwarming experience.

I love this moving book celebrating Popo and have given it as a gift to several friends. It offers a very unique, heart-felt perspective of the long distance relationship so many kids have with their grandparents. I Dream of Popo is moving and magical and the type of story my kids like to read again and again. It's fun with beginner readers too as "Popo" appears throughout the book and is a fun word for kids to learn to read.

This book is so beautiful. Gorgeous illustrations in bold colors make the story pop. This is a stunning book especially for a child who has family overseas, but it's a lovely portrait of family and culture that any child would enjoy!

My 3-year old loved the book, which reflects much her own experience with her grandma in Taiwan. The story line is touching and the illustrations works of art. Would recommend to those with an Asian American experience, or those looking to introduce their children to the diversity of experiences around them!

"I Dream of Popo" is a beautiful story of affection, family connection and remembrance. This is not just a children's book, but a book that can help children feel adoration and respect for their elder grandparents. Anyone reading this heartfelt story, with so many culturally enriching illustrations will feel the magic of reconnecting with one's ancestral heritage and the special bond inter-generational relationship can create in every family.

Beautiful book about a grandchild's relationship with her grandmother, spanning time and distance. Wonderfully written with vibrant illustrations. #diversebook

Loved it!! this is the story of a little girl who emigrates from Taiwan to America but she leaves behind her Popo (grandmother). The cultural connections hold tight even across the world. I absolutely loved reading this story!

LOVE this one. Gorgeous story telling. I cried at preschool pickup!

This book is incredibly beautiful and powerful! It is one my kids have asked for over and over again and a delight to read with them every time.

I liove my poopoo thank you love htis book <3 Poopoo

Being an immigrant in the United States, I could resonate so much with this story. Even when the girl in the book moves to a new country and learns a new language, the connection between her and her grandma (popo) is so strong and she dreamed of popo. I read this book to my students who are mostly immigrants and English Language Learners, and they also loved this book very much.

I read this book to my students and it makes me miss my Popo. Thank you for such a wonderful and tender book 🙏.

Thank you for such a heartwarming and touching book! Reading this book brought back so many memories… It is so beautifully written and illustrated. It really means a lot to read a picture book that hits so close to home.

Thank you for sharing your story. It’s an amazing book that I am so excited to share with my niece. It is the perfect sentiment of missing elders back home. The yearning, and memories are so vivid. Your Popo must be so proud.

A sweet, tender account of a little girl and her popo--beautifully illustrated.

Beautifully written and illustrated and reminds me so much of my grandmother and our relationship. Highly recommend!

Oh my, what a beautiful book. I am Taiwanese+American, and my family exists, like the one in the book, at the junction of Taiwan and the US. The little girl's experience at school felt intimately familiar to me, especially when she learned the new word, "grandma," for a concept (and person) so dear to her. My words for beloved family members are ah ma and ah gong; these aren't words that I grew up hearing in school, but I hope will become more familiar to American ears through books like this. Blackburne's writing is a voice for people who look like her, who look like her daughter, who look like me. Blackburne's story is for people who learn about new worlds--we don't lose one piece of ourselves, but we gain new pieces. The illustrations add so much to the story, too. The colors and textures are reminiscent of vintage Taiwanese drawings, but we don't just see the Grand Hotel, we see Taipei 101, too. Amid the symbols of tradition and modernity, Kuo included timeless images of Taiwan, from the ubiquitous pink tile to the Doraemon figurine guarding the TV--and of course, the food. Because food is love and food is Taiwan. This will make the perfect Lunar New Year gift!

I bought this book for my 3 year old daughter and she is reading it with my mom. This book made us all tear up and it’s a great book to start conservations about family changes, culture differences and losing. I highly recommend it.

I loved everything about this picture book! The story is beautifully written about a girl and her Grandma. When the young girl moves to San Diego from Taiwan her “Popo” stays in Taiwan. Even though they are apart their love is apparent and remains. This book led to a discussion with my children about what it would be like to emigrate and leave behind your home, loved ones and learn a whole new language. The illustrations capture the story perfectly and this is a book I think every child should read!

This book tugged on my heartstrings so hard, especially since the story is so similar to what my 3-year old is going through with my mom. Like many of the other reviewers, I cried reading it (never has a book meant for kids touched me so deeply). Beautifully written and visuals were equally on-point.