GENRE: **Diverse, Character Driven, Lyrical
WORDS: 444
Query:
Dear Agent/Editor,
When Mei, a talkative Chinese girl, finds herself in an English-speaking world, she must learn a new language to fit in and make friends, or remain quietly adrift in an ocean of foreign words. Will Mei be able to navigate unfamiliar waters and find her voice?
I am submitting MEI’S OCEAN OF WORDS, a 444-word picture book. In the spirit of “Gibberish” by Young Vo and “The Day You Begin” by Jacqueline Woodson, this story is inspired by my own story as a Chinese immigrant. Mei is a talkative child, but when her family moves from China to America, she feels lost. At her new school, Mei is very quiet. She must learn to navigate an ocean of unfamiliar words before she can fit into her new life in America. Using the word “quiet” as the key to conquering her self-doubt, Mei unravels a new language. The artistic use of language, the embrace of multiculturalism, and the depiction of Mei as a resilient character should captivate both children and adults. I also envision an educational component and the potential for a series.
I am a pediatrician who lives in California with my husband and two young daughters. Born in China, I grew up in England, Israel, and North America. With every move, I was the new kid, the immigrant. Like Mei, I found ways that helped me learn English and Hebrew, and in doing so, I developed my own voice. A member of SCBWI, I write authentic heartfelt and humorous picture books.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I hope you enjoy my story and I look forward to hearing from you.
Excerpt:
Mei crosses an ocean before arriving at her family’s new home.
A suitcase filled with Chinese words; Mei knows they won’t be enough.
In the chaos of her new classroom, Mei is quiet.
She freezes in a block of silence.
Her words hide behind a dam,
And do not dare spill over.
At lunch, Marina asks, “Want to share?”
Mei says nothing.
What inspired you to write this story & what do you have in common with it:
As a child, I grew up in many countries. Mei’s story comes from my experience as a Chinese girl growing up in Jerusalem, Israel. When I was learning Hebrew, I recall writing the word “שקט – sheket” (quiet) on the blackboard before the teacher entered the classroom. Like Mei, I found ways that helped me adjust to my new environment.
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