Me and Mr. Mah

by Andrea Spalding, Janet Wilson (Illustrator)

When Ian's parents separate, he moves with his mother to the city, a thousand miles away from the prairie wheat farm he calls home. With no friends and a bleak moonscape of a backyard to play in, Ian has only an old shoe box of objects from his past life to keep him company. But after he peeks through the fence to the lush garden next door, Ian is inspired to start digging his own little plot. And when he meets Mr. Mah, the old man who owns the garden, Ian is surprised to learn they have a lot in common. Also displaced from the original home he misses, Mr. Mah keeps his own box of memories of his past in China. And as they share stories about their distant homes, Ian finds more than just a new friend--he finally discovers in himself the courage to accept change.

Genres: Picture Books, Friendship, Childrens, Family, Divorce

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Victoria Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only was the art in this book absolutely beautiful, it is such a great story about a little boy who befriends his neighbour. They bond over gardening and share stories with one another about the people and places that they miss.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This picture book tells a heartwarming story of a boy moved far away from his prairie wheat farm and his father because of a divorce and a new neighbor, moved far away from his homeland of China. Gardening becomes the link between the two but as they become friends, they share more than their flowers, and the boy Ian learns that change can be accepted. The illustrations are filled with vibrant color, helping to tell the story realistically.

[Carman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me and Mr. Mah is a tale of a boy named Ian dealing with the double whammy of divorce and moving away from his Dad and friends. I think this would be a good addition to class library as at any given time there is probably a student dealing with one or both of these issues.

[Pavitar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very entertaining book!

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story about a young boy who moves to the city after his parents' divorce and befriends his elderly Chinese neighbor.