Tea Leaf Eggs - by Karen E Hong (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

An elderly gentleman makes a daring escape from his senior facility to get his favorite snack in this heartwarming debut picture book with exquisite illustrations.

Grandpa Larry would like two tea leaf eggs, please! But no one at his senior home seems to know what tea leaf eggs are--or how to help him.

Undeterred by "nos," "whats," and "huhs," Grandpa Larry embarks on a journey in search of a taste of home. Will Grandpa Larry be able to navigate the streets and find what he's looking for? A young family running a nearby bakery might just have what the intrepid Grandpa Larry wants most of all.

With stunning soft watercolor art reminiscent of Erin Stead, Tea Leaf Eggs celebrates love, connection, and memories of loved ones. Caring for the elderly and respecting the personhood of someone--regardless of their age or condition--is how we keep our communities alive. This story was based on the author's family history, and back matter includes their recipe for tea leaf eggs.

Review Quotes

Tea Leaf Eggs has the most authentic and compassionate portrayal of an elder that I've seen in a picture book. Hong's quietly beautiful story shows how love and memory live in our favorite foods, and how we as a community can carry one another through loss. This tender--and delicious--tale will open young hearts.
--Livia Blackburne, New York Times Bestselling Author of I Dream of Popo and Bing's Cherries

About the Author

Karen E. Hong was inspired as a little kid to start drawing thanks to the picture books she read. Four decades later, Tea Leaf Eggs is her first picture book, for which she cooked countless batches of tea leaf eggs to figure out the right taste. Karen grew up in Singapore and now lives with her family in the San Francisco Bay Area in California. See more of her work at karenhong.art.