From New York Times bestselling author Thrity Umrigar and illustrator Khoa Le comes a story of a young girl who felt alone in her community after recently immigrating to America to live with her Auntie and Uncle—where she finds solace and joy through her Auntie's retelling of a classic Persian myth of acceptance and compassion between strangers. This timely and timeless story about immigration, refugees, and tolerance is now in paperback for the first time!When I first came to this country, I felt so alone. A young immigrant girl joins her aunt and uncle in a new country that is unfamiliar to her. She struggles with loneliness, with a fierce longing for the culture and familiarity of home, until one day, her aunt takes her on a walk. As the duo strolls through their city park, the girl's aunt begins to tell her an old myth, and a story within the story begins. A long time ago, a group of refugees arrived on a foreign shore. The local king met them, determined to refuse their request for refuge. But there was a language barrier, so the king filled a glass with milk and pointed to it as a way of saying that the land was full and couldn't accommodate the strangers. Then, the leader of the refugees dissolved sugar in the glass of milk. His message was clear: Like sugar in milk, our presence in your country will sweeten your lives. The king embraced the refugee, welcoming him and his people. The folktale depicted in this book was a part of author Thrity Umrigar's Zoroastrian upbringing as a Parsi child in India, but resonates for children of all backgrounds, especially those coming to a new homeland. An ALSC Notable Children's Book A Kirkus Best Books A School Library Journal Best Books Winner of the 2021 Ohioana Book Award An Anne Izard Storytellers' Choice Award, 2022 "Lush illustrations and a strong message of hope and perseverance make this a standout title." —School Library Journal, Starred Review "An engaging, beautiful, and memorable book." —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
