Always Come Home to Me [Hardcover]

Belle Yang (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

A moving and uplifting tale of two children and their parents, and the beloved pet doves that help them to understand one another.

"Fei, fei — fly, fly, little birds, but always come home to me!"

Mei-Mei and Di-Di are head-over-heels in love with their new doves. Like devoted parents, the siblings tenderly nurture Butterfly and Squeaky as they grow from chicks to fledglings to birds. But when Mei-Mei and Di-Di arrive home to find that the doves have disappeared, their young hearts break into a thousand pieces — and they run away, determined to reclaim their beloved birds. Will Mei-Mei and Di-Di return home with the doves before they break their own parents’ hearts?

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Set in northern China, this introduces twins Mei-Mei and her brother, DiDi, who leave for school each morning with their mother's words ringing in their ears: Fei, fei—fly little birds, but always come home to me. Finally given a longed-for pair of young doves, the twins raise and protect them with loving care. When the children release them to fly, they repeat their mother's phrase, and all is well until their father gives their doves to his brother. Mei-Mei and DiDi stow away on their uncle's wagon in an attempt to reclaim their birds; at last, father and uncle realize how dearly the twins love their pets. The father's insensitivity is an unconvincing element in the story, though Yang tries to explain it by showing him as busy and hardworking. The story incorporates a few Chinese words, but the illustrations provide more cultural flavor than the lackluster narrative. The simply executed paintings add color and energy to a slight but sweet story. Perkins, Linda

About the Author

Belle Yang was born in Taiwan and came to the United States with her parents at the age of seven. She has written and illustrated two highly praised adult books and two picture books, including HANNAH IS MY NAME. She lives in Carmel, California.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick (August 28, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763628999
• ISBN-13: 978-0763628994
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 0.4 x 9.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,024,970 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Belle Yang, subject of the PBS documentary, 'My Name is Belle,' is frequently asked whether she is primarily a writer or a painter. Answer: "When I'm writing, I'm a writer; when I'm painting, I'm a painter." She is also asked whether she is a children's author or of adult books. Answer: "I write for children, adults and everyone in between. Now I am also a graphic novelist."

Born in Taiwan, Belle Yang spent part of her childhood in Japan. At age seven she immigrated to the United States with her family. She attended Stirling University in Scotland, graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz, in biology but went on to study art at Pasadena Art Center College of Design and the Beijing Institute of Traditional Chinese Painting.

She worked and traveled in China for three years and returned to the United States late in 1989 after the Tiananmen Massacre.

She returned with gratitude in her heart for the freedom of expression given her in America, certain she would firmly grasp this gift with both hands.

Illustrated, adult nonfiction:

Baba: A Return to China Upon My Father's Shoulders, 1994 Harcourt Brace

The Odyssey of a Manchurian, 1996 Harcourt Brace


Picture books:

Hannah Is My Name, 2004 Candlewick Press

Always Come Home to Me, 2007 Candlewick Press. Awarded Chinese American Librarian Association Best Picture Book of 2008

Chili-Chili-Chin-Chin, 1999 Harcourt Brace
Upcoming Works

Upcoming works:

A graphic with WW Norton. "Forget Sorrow: A China Elegy"

"Foo the Flying Frog of Washtub Pond," Candlewick Press

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Valuable lessons in this wonderful book, June 23, 2008

By 

Sonshi.com "sonshi" (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Always Come Home to Me (Hardcover)

I purchased this book with "Hannah is My Name" and I'm so glad I did. When I read it to my young daughter the day we received it, she loved it! She and I had such a wonderful time. She giggled at the name of one of the doves and the children's uncle, and felt happy about the ending.

Perhaps she didn't catch them the first time but I know the profound lessons from the book will reverberate with her as she grows up (because we'll read this book regularly). Without spoiling the story for you, I will say it displays wonderful examples of bravery and empathy. If you want a unique experience (takes place in China) in story telling for your children, this book is it. And what can I say about the artwork but "Wow!"

You and your kids will simply enjoy it as we did -- something to treasure for years to come. Thomas

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Winner By Belle Yang!, October 4, 2007

By 

Rosemarie Riebold - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Always Come Home to Me (Hardcover)

Belle Yang's latest book `Always Come Home to Me' is another delightful children's story skillfully told by this gifted artist. Her message, that parents will always be there with open arms to welcome you home into a warm, safe nest is an important one for children of all ages. Her wonderful drawings add vivid visual images which tell their own tales. This book will be under the tree of the children in our family and those of our friends this Holiday Season. We look forward to her next publication with anticipation!
Rosemarie Riebold

4.0 out of 5 stars Sweet story of caretaking, October 10, 2010

By 

dnk "dnkboston" (Boston, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Always Come Home to Me (Hardcover)

This is a sweet story of the love children want to give and the way they like to play at being adults. The illustrations are bright and colorful when the children are with the doves, but more linear and shaded when there is conflict or high emotion. While I agree that we don't "see" the father's authoritarianism until he gives away the doves, it isn't as jarring as the Book List review makes out, in part because we are focused on the children's reactions.