ABOUT THE BOOK
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Mama’s Love Language: Sometimes Love Tastes Like Hainan Chicken Rice
Written by Elisa Stad
Illustrated by Ry Menson
Ages 5-10 | 31 Pages
Publisher: Ginger Lotus Press | ISBN-13: 9798988378518
Publisher’s Book Summary: Jade is a girl who lives in two worlds and, coming from a multicultural family, she’s on a quest to understand her identity and where she truly belongs.
She is trying to find her place in the world but feels different from the other kids at school. Back home, Jade’s parents have their unique approach to love and care. Sometimes Jade is embarrassed by Mama’s accent and she can’t understand why she is not just like any other mother she knows.
The real adventure unfolds when Jade starts rebelling against her mother’s traditional ways of showing love, especially through food. It’s a struggle that takes her on a path of discovery, as she learns about her family’s rich heritage and her mother’s challenging past in Vietnam and as an immigrant.
Jade then discovers that even though Mama doesn’t hug or say I love you, the healing aroma of ginger, green onions, and chicken broth does.
“Mama’s Love Language” is a heartwarming children’s book that addresses the universal theme of belonging and the beauty of cultural diversity. Through Jade’s story, children will learn that being different is not only okay but something to be celebrated, and that love can come in many shapes and forms.
PURCHASE LINK
Amazon
MY REVIEW
“Mama's Love Language” is a sweet children’s story that celebrates the extraordinary blessings of coming from a culturally diverse family.
Young Jade is a Chinese American girl who looks much like her Chinese mother. She is uncomfortable with having a different appearance and home-life than her schoolmates and wishes she looked more like her American father. Her mother doesn’t act, talk, or cook like her classmates’ mothers, and it makes her feel so out of place. She wonders why her mother doesn’t fix hamburgers instead of Asian food dishes.
But things change when her father explains how special Jade’s mother is, and why she speaks and acts differently than other moms. She learns that her mother shows her love differently because she’s from a different culture. Jade realizes being a multi-cultural child makes her special and that her differences should be celebrated and embraced.
Being from a multi-cultural family myself, Jade’s challenges are reminiscent of my youth. My mother knew several languages, spoke with a strong Spanish accent, and prepared culturally diverse meals, so my experiences differed from my classmates. I love that this story and its sweet and lively illustrations help children better understand the unique rewards of blending cultural traditions, meals, languages, and legacies.
First Lines: My name is Jade. I live in two worlds.
Genre: Children’s
Author: Elisa Stad
Page Count: 32
Reading Age: 4-8
Content: Cultural diversity
#CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions are 100% mine.
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A 2024 Fav♡rite!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Elisa Stad, for the majority of her career, was a brand and international business executive for luxury goods and consumer product companies. After experiencing working in over 40 countries, she acquired a passion for globalization and the sharing of cultures based on her experiences. Elisa is also focused on inspiring the youth through her efforts in healthcare inequities through Stad Center of Pain, Palliative, and Integrative Medicine and serves on college boards at USC, UCSF and Harvard.
Elisa grew up in a mixed-race household, as a daughter of a Vietnamese refugee mother and American father. She grew up in a multicultural home, searching for identity. She also moved homes often in her childhood including to Asia and within the US to Idaho and California.
She always wanted to share with other young children the beauty of humanity and how we can celebrate our unique gifts. You can find her enjoying ballet, visiting local Asian street markets, practicing yoga, and focusing on her spiritual practice. Elisa lives in Southern California with her husband, 3 children and a bernedoodle.
For more information, visit https://www.elisastad.com/.
https://www.instagram.com/mamaslovelanguage/
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♡ GIVEAWAY! ♡
Enter the giveaway for the chance to win a copy of Mama’s Love Language: Sometimes Love Tastes Like Hainan Chicken Rice, signed by Elisa Stad, and a $50 Amazon gift card!
Mama's Love Language: Book Giveaway