Bitter Tea and Rock Candy (Hardcover)
by Yan Gu
the story of a young girl learning her families traditions and cultural practices.
this is another multicultural book to have connections to family and traditions.

**Review of *Bitter Tea and Rock Candy* by Yan Gu (Macmillan Audio / Goodreads ARC):** A heartfelt intergenerational vignette, this story follows a granddaughter who resists drinking her grandmother’s liangcha tea—bothered by its bitter taste and earthy aroma—until she learns her grandmother once felt the same and is gently introduced to another part of their family ritual. The audiobook narration is brisk and pleasant, but I felt the sensory richness and cultural imagery might shine more vividly in the print edition. Still, it’s a sweet, tender reflection on tradition, inherited memory, and the bonds that flavor family life.

Bitter Tea and Rock Candy, written by Yan Gu and narrated by Katharine Chin is a sweet picture book about young Mimi, who is a picky eater. Mimi’s Waipo, or Grandmother, loves liangcha, and wants Mimi to love it too. But Mimi doesn’t like it, or understand why Waipo thinks it is so important. But as the week progresses, Mimi and Waipo begin to understand the real ingredients in liangcha, and the importance of a little bit of sweetness too!

I really enjoyed this book, and the way that both characters learned something, and were able to grow together and show each other their love. I think that this would be a wonderful book for children to learn about family traditions, and would also be a great one for children to share with their families.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and to the author, publisher, and narrator of this book for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.