And it was in reading the author's note that I realized what a clever piece of writing this picture book is.

The back of the book also names the Taipei locations featured in the story. Make sure you read the author and illustrator's notes about how this book relates to their personal experience. Can she ever feel comfortable with Amah in her home city? It's a long way away, she only knows her Amah from video chats, and Taipei is full of new things. Kylie is going to visit her Amah in Taiwan. Amah Faraway is fun for all readers, but is especially important for those children who straddle two or more cultures and who live far from loved ones and want to find ways to build those connections across cultures and continents. The story also has a universal appeal for anyone who has ever traveled or been in a new situation that was at first unfamiliar and uncomfortable. The story gives readers a peek into the food, sights, language, and activities of Taipei, and there’s even a list of the places that Kylie visits with her Amah and mother. The mirror structure of the book is so clever and makes for a wonderful classroom discussion. The same words (“squirmed,” “jittered,” etc.) appear again in the story, but this time they reflect Kylie’s excitement instead of her nervousness. When Kylie connects with Amah during a swim in the hot springs, her feeling towards Amah and Taipei begin to transform. Words like “squirmed” and “jittered” and “jiggled” and “100 butterflies in her belly” show how nervous Kylie feels about traveling to a new place and being with her grandmother in person after only chatting with her on the computer. It’s a joy to read Amah Faraway and watch the relationship between Kylie and her Amah develop after Kylie and her mom travel to Taipei.

Amah faraway