Our Lake

A tender and vulnerable exploration of love and loss that follows two boys as they take their first trip back to the lake without their father, from debut author-illustrator Angie Kang.A tender and vulnerable exploration of love and loss that follows two boys as they take their first trip back to the lake without their father, from debut author-illustrator Angie Kang.Today, Brother is taking me up to swim in the lake like Father used to.I want to thank him for bringing us here, but I can't find the words.Instead, I loop my arms around his torso, and he does the same back.Here, in our lake, the water holds us close.On a sweltering hot day, a little boy mirrors his brother as he takes off his shirt, stretches, and walks toward the edge of the tall rock, ready to dive into the cool lake waters glistening below. Only this time, Father is not here. And the water looks so far away. How can he take the plunge?With a gorgeous, deft touch in her exquisitely soft illustrations and words, Angie Kang conveys vulnerability, longing, and connection as these two boys hear Father's laugh and see his memory all around them, uniting them in a bittersweet moment.

Praise for Our Lake by Angie Kang; illustrated by Angie Kang:

★ “A deeply felt story about siblings returning to a cherished place…in loosely painted, expressive gouache, crayon, and colored pencil. Foregrounding the hard work of moving forward, this story about loss offers a vision of a place where “we are all together.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ “With lyrical descriptive language and breathtaking illustrations, this book tenderly explores themes of loss, bravery, and family. A gentle and heartfelt exploration of grief, this book is a must-have addition to any library shelf.” —School Library Journal, starred review

★“ Kang’s debut picture book is a quiet portrait of the ways in which grief takes us by surprise, and its glorious final celebratory splash offers a radiant reminder of how joy and connection can exist alongside sadness.” — The Horn Book, starred review

“A sensitive look at the delicate process of navigating loss. The gouache, crayon, and colored pencil illustrations convey a sense of calm and comfort while also acknowledging the anxiety of the unknown.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Lyrical…The text has a contemplative quality to it, never taking up more than three short lines at a time and allowing the viewer space to process every word…Vibrant eye-catching colors splash across every page.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

“A heartfelt story of overcoming grief. Mixing gouache with the texture from crayons and colored pencils, Kang paints the sky a soft yellow with foliage in deep blues and greens. Combining these elements with the unlined art adds a softness to the delicate subject matter. A valuable addition for even the most robust collections.” —Booklist

Angie Kang is a Chinese American writer and illustrator living in LA. Her work has appeared in The New Yorker, Narrative, The Believer, and elsewhere, and has been generously supported by MacDowell and other organizations. Angie graduated from the Brown-RISD Dual Degree Program with a BFA in Illustration from the Rhode Island School of Design and a BA in Literary Arts from Brown University. She enjoys painting places she remembers and places she would like to go. Learn more about Angie's writing and art at AngieKang.net or @anqiekanq on social media.

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