My Beijing is a book with four stories about a sweet little girl, Yu’er, her grandfather and friends. Yu’er and her grandpa have a very close, loving relationship and he helps her navigate a world that is somewhat difficult for her, since she has a (unspecified) disability.  Her difficulty with walking doesn’t stop her from enjoying the world around her as her grandpa wheels her in a cart, on his bike or even on his back.  The reader will cheer for Yu’er and Grandpa in this lovely book.

This book of four stories keeps a slow, relaxed pace.  They have an almost dreamlike flow, where the author/illustrator mixes the magical elements casually among the everyday aspects of life. This is much different from many American graphic novels in that respect – both the fantastical elements and the  big plot happenings in general avoid being “in your face”.  The stories are a bit strange, but weirdly comforting.  If you have read stories of a similar genre, these aren’t surprising.  But, some readers might not really understand the flow or casual plot twists.  Even so, it’s good for kids to be exposed to lots of different types of storytelling and this is a fun way to do it.  

There are asterisks that explain different parts of Chinese culture in the story, which is helpful for those that are unfamiliar with it. The illustrations are gentle and sweet, with mute tones.  This book is highly recommended for all library collections!