Piper Chen Sings
by Phillipa Soo and Maris Pasquale Doran; illus. by Qin Leng
Primary    Random House Studio/Random    40 pp.
4/24    9780593564691    $19.99
Library ed.  9780593564707    $22.99
e-book ed.  9780593564714    $10.99

Piper Chen loves to sing, from offering a morning song to the sun, to joining the chorus of frogs in the pond, to singing goodnight to the moon. Whether she’s “practicing her whistle” or “listening to Nai Nai’s homemade jiaozi pop,” Piper finds music all around her. When she’s offered the chance to sing a solo in her school’s spring concert, Piper is initially excited and then gripped by stage fright, feeling as if “butterflies were having a dance party in my belly!” This isn’t like singing to a stuffed animal audience. With compassionate guidance from Nai Nai, Piper learns to transform the fluttering butterflies into sources of strength and excitement. Leng’s lively ink, watercolor, and oil pastel illustrations render scenes of Piper’s interactions with Nai Nai and her classmates with tender detail, enhancing the story’s emotional depth. While the outcome isn’t in doubt, Piper’s sincerity and the themes of courage and self-expression make this book an uplifting choice, inspiring readers to embrace their passions and face their fears with courage.

From the May/June 2024 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.