PICKING TEA WITH BABA

A family picks tea leaves on a mountaintop in China.

Mama and the two children (the elder of whom narrates) wake early one morning to accompany Baba to his tea garden. It’s a special treat, as Baba usually goes alone. They eat a filling breakfast in their cramped but cozy home, pack lunches, strap wicker baskets to their backs, and head out. Illustrations depicting their early-morning trek feature foggy landscapes and steep climbs full of wonder. The kids are excited about it all—the bamboo partridges hiding among the plants, the praying mantis they spot, their echoing songs and laughter, the competition to see which of them can pick more tea leaves. It’s tough work and irritating to the skin, but the narrator’s enthusiasm never dims. Even during their lunch break, the kids dart around, picking fruit and fetching water. After a nap, some rain, more partridge sightings, and more work, the sun begins to set, and a lovely panorama shows families walking down mountain paths with full baskets on their backs. They bring their bags to a bustling tea factory, where the tea farmers line up to sell their harvest. Reminiscent of Diego Rivera’s work, Yu’s artwork, with its bold strokes and earthy colors, lovingly portrays a hardworking farming family. Xu’s text, translated from Chinese, perfectly captures a child’s perspective, acknowledging the characters’ travails while focusing on everyday pleasures.

A joyful and dignified snapshot of rural family life.