Laolao's Dumplings

Millie's grandma, her Lao Lao, passes down her dumpling recipe in this heartwarming story about community, culture, and belonging.

Millie loves cooking with her Lao Lao, and together they walk through Chinatown collecting fresh ingredients to make a steaming hot batch of dumplings. Chives from Auntie Lim, shrimp from Uncle Lee, and enough lychee to last all day make for the perfect dumplings and the perfect summer together for Millie and Lao Lao.

However, when winter rolls around and Lao Lao falls ill, it's up to Millie to remember Lao Lao's recipe and return to Chinatown to get all the right ingredients. With two teaspoons of patience, a pinch of luck, and a whole lot of love, Millie and her parents make a batch of dumplings that Lao Lao will never forget.

This is a celebration not only of good food, but of the loved ones we get to share good food with.

Dane Liu was born in China and spent her teenage years in the US and Canada. Her journalism career began in Haiti, producing a PBS documentary about child slavery. In 2018, We Need Diverse Books awarded her a year-long mentorship for her picture books that explore incarceration, literacy, and immigration. Friends Are Friends, Forever was her first picture book.

Shin Yeon Moon is a New York–based illustrator. She received her MFA from the School of Visual Arts, where she now teaches. Her work has garnered accolades from esteemed illustration publications including Society of Illustrators and Communication Arts.