Rainbow Shopping - by Qing Zhuang

Book Synopsis

Sharing a delicious meal helps a child feel loved in this heartfelt tribute to Chinatown and spending days-off together.

On a rainy Saturday, a young girl feels as gray as a pigeon. Since moving from China to New York City, Mom, Dad, and Grandma have been very busy working. But a trip to Mom's favorite Chinatown store to find the best produce, seafood, and spices for dinner just might turn the girl's day around.

Later on, Dad steams, boils, fries, and stir-fries all the ingredients while girl and Grandma taste-test. After cozy goodnights, a final dream spread shows the family walking hand-in-hand in rainbow colors--an affirmation of love and support even on rainy, gray days.

Inspired by Qing Zhuang's experience as a first generation Chinese American, Rainbow Shopping explores a young child's feelings of loneliness and discovery with tenderness and humor. Qing uses watercolor, colored pencil, and crayon to beautifully recreate NYC's Chinatown neighborhood. Filled with warmth and details of city life, this story about a working-class family is one readers can return to again and again.

Review Quotes

★ "[A] touching portrait of a family's love for one another. . . . Zhuang's artwork is as warm and inviting as her story. Her watercolor, crayon and colored pencil illustrations burst with detail, allowing for new discoveries with each read."--BookPage, Starred Review

"Inspired by the author's own childhood experiences, the story beautifully reflects how it feels to relocate to a completely different country and still try to feel at home."--The Horn Book

"Colored pencil, crayon, and watercolor applied in a personal sketchbook style communicate the feel of New York City sights and sounds, transporting the protagonist into rainbow dreams and making the stylized city illustrations feel achingly real."--Publishers Weekly

"[The] story touches on themes that will resonate with many readers--exploration, immigration, family, childhood. . . . The vibrant ­illustrations convey the hustle and bustle of the city, where there is always something intriguing to look at. . . . A celebration of family, heritage, and home, this book is a worthy addition to any ­collection."--School Library Journal

"This engaging picture book is perfect for storytimes centered on family traditions or the comfort of familiar food."--Booklist

"Watercolor textures and comforting colors transform an everyday activity into a joyful adventure. . . . The simple narrative sparkles with gentle humor and reassuring imagery. This day-in-the-life story is a celebration of food as connection, comfort, and inspiration and a way to honor our heritage as we walk into the future."--Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Qing Zhuang has always wanted to be an artist of one kind or another. Born in Fuzhou City, China, Qing moved to New York City when she was seven years old. Like many immigrants and children of immigrants, Qing tried very hard to fit in and embody both cultures. However, the world of books and art is where Qing totally and naturally feels like herself. She is the illustrator of How Long Is Forever?, which Kirkus Reviews called "warm and expressive." Rainbow Shopping is Qing's debut as author-illustrator. On most days, when not drawing, you will find Qing getting messy making art with children as an elementary school art teacher and enjoying all the new children's books in the library. She lives with her wonderful husband in Queens, New York.