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Gibberish Kindle Edition

by Young Vo (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 83 ratings
Teachers' pick
See all formats and editions
BEST OF THE YEAR
Kirkus · Parents · Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association · Chicago Public Library · Washington Post · Evanston Public Library · Los Angeles Public Library

Charlotte Huck Recommended Book

Common Sense Media Selection

It’s Dat’s first day of school in a new country! Dat and his Mah made a long journey to get here, and Dat doesn’t know the language. To Dat, everything everybody says — from the school bus driver to his new classmates — sounds like gibberish. How is Dat going to make new friends if they can’t understand each other?

Luckily there’s a friendly girl in Dat’s class who knows that there are other ways to communicate, besides just talking. Could she help make sense of the gibberish?


P R A I S E

“A superb picture book.”
—The Wall Street Journal

“Masterly. A tender reflection.”
—The New York Times

★ “The execution is stellar. A visually and emotionally immersive immigration story.”
—Kirkus (starred)

★ “Delightful. Beginning readers will love this book as the illustrations say it all.”
—School Library Connection (starred)

★ “Will give hope to kids dealing with a new country and could inspire others to reach out to struggling immigrant children.”
—Booklist (starred)
Read more Read less
Previous page
  1. Reading age
    4 - 8 years
  2. Print length
    38 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Levine Querido
  5. Publication date
    March 1, 2022
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  10. ISBN-13
    978-1646141104
  11. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

K-Gr 2-A young boy named Dat and his mah travel to a new country. As Dat prepares for his first day of school, Mah explains that when the people around him speak, the words will "sound like gibberish," and that he should listen and do the best that he can. Throughout Dat's day, he struggles to understand his bus driver, teacher, and classmates. He spends the majority of his day alone, until "someone unexpected" reaches out to him, first on the playground, and then again on the bus ride home.α(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Review

“...splendid...a powerful story about compassion and finding one’s voice. There are an increasing number of picture books about immigration, but this one stands above the rest in its brilliant and deeply felt depiction of how it feels for children just like Dat.” ― Julie Danielson, Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast



“Brilliant, metaphorical illustrations move from cartooney black and white to realistic color to illuminate Vo’s exceptional storytelling… It’s a must-share book that beautifully shows the challenges of language learning.” ― Melissa Taylor, Imagination Soup



“The ingenuity and playfulness of the art, as well as the book's overarching message, make this title a must for any child's library.” ― Shelf Awareness



"“Vo’s heartwarming immigration story is ­beautifully told, with multimedia illustrations that shine on each spread. This ­uplifting ­story is a welcome addition to any collection.”―School Library Journal ,


"

"[STAR] “This picture book brilliantly conveys how terrifying and confusing it can be to adapt to a strange country and how much even one person’s acts of kindness can help. This is a story that will give hope to kids dealing with a new country and could inspire others to reach out to struggling immigrant children.” ― Booklist (starred),


"

“Masterly. A tender reflection of what it feels like, after being socially on the outside, when linguistic connections spark and fizz, and one’s first few words (‘tree,’ ‘boat,’ ‘book’) suddenly multiply to equal ‘home.’”― Kory Stamper, The New York Times



“[Gibberish] reminds me a bit of Shaun Tan’s The Arrival, in that it shows a foreign world by making it look literally alien. This one focuses on language, but that’s an important key to unlocking a new place.” ― Geek Dad



“...a superb picture book...'Gibberish' tells a touching tale that will resonate not only with former outsiders but also with children who might wonder why the new kid at school is so quiet.” ―Wall Street Journal



Best of the Year, Bank Street College

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09QHCFGSP
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Levine Querido (March 1, 2022)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 1, 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 40817 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 38 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1646141105
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 83 ratings

About the author

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Young Vo

Young Vo

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

​Young Vo learned to draw before he could write. He drew a lot of characters, then began to write stories for them. There were not many job choices that he could make, so he decided to be an animator, illustrator, and author. Now he writes and draws his stories before the sun rises, then during the day, he animates.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
83 global ratings
Excellent Book!!!
5 Stars
Excellent Book!!!
This is a GREAT book for kids of any age that move to a different country and don’t know the language! We just moved my 13 year old stepson to the US from Puerto Rico. We both really identified with this book. Him with starting school in a new country, and my maternal fears of sending a child to school who barely knows the language. This is a must have!
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Top reviews from the United States

Cabooklover
5.0 out of 5 stars Heartwarming Tale of Understanding and Friendship
Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2023
Verified Purchase
"Gibberish" by Young Vo is a beautifully written and illustrated children's book that tells a touching story of a young boy named Dat and his mah as they embark on a journey to a new country. As Dat prepares for his first day of school, Mah imparts an important lesson - the people around him may speak words that "sound like gibberish," and he should listen and do his best. This book takes readers on Dat's heartwarming and relatable journey of trying to understand a foreign language and culture.

Throughout Dat's day, the struggle to communicate with his bus driver, teacher, and classmates is vividly portrayed. The book brilliantly captures the loneliness and isolation that can come with being in a new place where you don't speak the language. Dat's emotions are palpable, making it easy for children and adults alike to empathize with his experience.

The real magic of "Gibberish" lies in the unexpected friendships that Dat forms on the playground and during the bus ride home. These moments are beautifully crafted and remind us of the power of human connection and kindness. The story not only teaches children about the challenges of language barriers but also the importance of reaching out to others and making them feel welcome.

Young Vo's storytelling is complemented by captivating illustrations that bring the characters and their emotions to life. The book is a must-read for children and parents, as it delivers an important message about empathy, understanding, and the universal language of friendship. "Gibberish" is a gem that belongs on every child's bookshelf, and it's a tale that will warm your heart and inspire meaningful conversations about acceptance and inclusivity.
One person found this helpful
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Todd McMath
5.0 out of 5 stars This book changed my students lives!
Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2023
Verified Purchase
Lindsey: I am an ESOL teacher of nearly 70 students in grades K-8. I was introduced to Gibberish by my school psychologist who saw the author read it on tiktok. We immediately bought copies to share with our students. My first time reading, I was in tears because I felt like I finally found a book that represents the journey my students have gone through. For immigrant children, the language barrier is so isolating. I read this story to my students and many were in tears as well. They finally felt understood. That to me as an educator is everything. I don’t even have the words to explain how meaningful Young Bo’s story is. The illustrations provide such a deep message as well through Dat’s journey. I can’t speak highly enough of this book. Thank you Young Vo for sharing your experience and touching the lives of so many.
4 people found this helpful
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Taylor arnold
5.0 out of 5 stars An absolutely adorable powerful book!
Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2022
Verified Purchase
Expertly drawn and written this book is really just a gem! It's a very uplifting story with a really strong emphasis on kindness, even towards people who may not be able to understand you. In this day and age, of conflict and struggle, this book was a nice breath of fresh air with creative illustrations and a surprising amount of depth in each page; which will have you re-examining sections over and over finding more and more hidden detail. Brilliantly done Young Vo!
5 people found this helpful
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Heather Sharpe
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book!!!
Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2023
Verified Purchase
This is a GREAT book for kids of any age that move to a different country and don’t know the language! We just moved my 13 year old stepson to the US from Puerto Rico. We both really identified with this book. Him with starting school in a new country, and my maternal fears of sending a child to school who barely knows the language. This is a must have!
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Heather Sharpe
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book!!!
Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2023
This is a GREAT book for kids of any age that move to a different country and don’t know the language! We just moved my 13 year old stepson to the US from Puerto Rico. We both really identified with this book. Him with starting school in a new country, and my maternal fears of sending a child to school who barely knows the language. This is a must have!
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One person found this helpful
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Jan Stone
4.0 out of 5 stars Understanding others is difficult. We all need to know that.
Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2022
Verified Purchase
Good book.
One person found this helpful
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Abigail Skiles
5.0 out of 5 stars So good!
Reviewed in the United States on June 17, 2023
Verified Purchase
This sweet book powerfully shows how it can feel to be in a new place, surrounded by people speaking an unknown language - and how friendship can build a place of safety. The combination of words and pictures is incredible storytelling and I can't wait to see what Young Vo writes next!
One person found this helpful
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heather
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing book to teach empathy for ESOL
Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2022
Verified Purchase
I learned about this book on Tik-Tok. I bought it here on Amazon and read it to my students and also gifted it to my esol teachers at school it is a wonderful book to teach empathy to students who are learning and learning with children who speak more than one language.
5 people found this helpful
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Jennifer B Beiers
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful
Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2023
Verified Purchase
My students loved this book. The "gibberish" in the book has symbols that go along with the English alphabet, so my kids wrots lots of gibberish notes to each other. It was a lot of fun.
One person found this helpful
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