Summary: Kylie feels anxious about going to visit her Amah (grandmother) in Taiwan. Her nervousness causes her to have butterflies in her stomach because she does not understand the language well and the food is unfamiliar. As she adjusts to being abroad, however, she comes to love the time and meals she shares with her grandmother and extended family. Kylie is sad to return to her home in San Francisco, but on her next visit to Taiwan, she has butterflies in her stomach due to excitement!
Why this is a great book: I love this book for a multitude of reasons. First, the book captures the very real and conflicting emotions that come with visiting family that lives far away. When we do not see people often, sometimes our reunions, even with family, can feel awkward. This feeling of awkwardness among family members is not often discussed in children’s books. I love the way Margaret Chiu Greanias captures the feelings of anxiety and awkwardness so perfectly without shaming Kylie for her feelings.
Second, Amah Faraway helps children explore how feelings can shift overtime. Kylie goes from feeling out of place in Taiwan to loving her time there and not wanting to leave. Sometimes children just need time and space to adjust. The feelings of anxiety, awkwardness and even dread they may have been feeling can give way to exuberance, joy and love. Amah Faraway helps remind parents to have patience with children as they are going through these changing and conflicting emotions.
This book is a great read for anyone with upcoming travel to see family far away. It will help children understand that they may need a few days to adjust to being in a new environment and that’s ok. It’s also a great book to re-read after you have returned from travel. Children may feel sad about leaving relatives they just started developing a closer relationship with behind. This book reminds them that there will be another visit eventually and that next time the visit may be one they look forward to and enjoy even more.
Did you travel a far distance to visit family this summer? What emotions did you encounter on the way there and the way home and how did they change? Have you tried reading this book to help a child(ren) process a recent trip? How did they respond?