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Yuna's Cardboard Castles
Fold, fit, tuck . . . Yuna and her family have just moved to the United States, and she doesn't speak English yet. At first, her attempts to catch the attention of the neighborhood kids get lost in translation, but when she shows that she can do something very special with paper, a whole new world unfolds. Marie Tang and Jieting Chen have brought Yuna's origami creations to life in this whimsical, magical picture book, where the language of play can bridge the language barrier and build new friendships. Back matter includes information about the origin of origami and instructions for kids to fold their own paper boat.
40 pages, Hardcover
Published January 24, 2023
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August 27, 2022Verging on overly precious, but mostly sweet.
January 23, 2023
Moving to a new place can be scary. Moving to a new place where everyone is different from you and doesn’t speak the same language as you is even scarier. Yuna and her family have just moved to the United States from Japan and she doesn’t speak English yet. How is she going to make new friends? Yuna’s Cardboard Castles explores the way people—young children especially—can learn to relate to one another despite language and cultural barriers. It’s a story about grieving the loss of something, while figuring out how to keep it a part of you as you move forward. It’s a story of immigration. It’s a story of cultural identity. It’s a story of how the language of play transcends any verbal or written language.
Yuna isn’t sure where she fits in her new home. The houses are different. The city is different. The language is different. But through play—particularly through Yuna’s origami—Yuna and her new friends concoct a whole world through their shared imagination. Illustrator Jieting Chen wows with amazing colors, blending origami creations with imagination with just a splash of reality thrown in. Just like Yuna’s origami balls, Chen breathes life and depth into the book, causing readers to linger and explore the page even after they’ve read the words.
Marie Tang writes from personal experience, having been born in Hong Kong before coming to America as a child. In the afterword of Yuna’s Cardboard Castles, she writes that it was through creating imaginary worlds with origami paper and cardboard moving boxes that she gained her first friends in her new home. The fact that experience stuck with her and impacted her so much that it became this book is a testament to the power of play and imagination in building friendships and making others feel at home.
Yuna’s Cardboard Castles is a loving reflection on how play and imagination bring us together. I’m particularly excited to see Asian stories told by Asian creators. Yuna’s (and Tang’s) story is the story of so many Asian immigrants who find themselves in unfamiliar spaces. For years, the message to immigrants has been assimilation. Tang and Chen reject that, using the cultural expression of origami as a way of tying together Yuna’s old home with her new one.
Yuna isn’t sure where she fits in her new home. The houses are different. The city is different. The language is different. But through play—particularly through Yuna’s origami—Yuna and her new friends concoct a whole world through their shared imagination. Illustrator Jieting Chen wows with amazing colors, blending origami creations with imagination with just a splash of reality thrown in. Just like Yuna’s origami balls, Chen breathes life and depth into the book, causing readers to linger and explore the page even after they’ve read the words.
Marie Tang writes from personal experience, having been born in Hong Kong before coming to America as a child. In the afterword of Yuna’s Cardboard Castles, she writes that it was through creating imaginary worlds with origami paper and cardboard moving boxes that she gained her first friends in her new home. The fact that experience stuck with her and impacted her so much that it became this book is a testament to the power of play and imagination in building friendships and making others feel at home.
Yuna’s Cardboard Castles is a loving reflection on how play and imagination bring us together. I’m particularly excited to see Asian stories told by Asian creators. Yuna’s (and Tang’s) story is the story of so many Asian immigrants who find themselves in unfamiliar spaces. For years, the message to immigrants has been assimilation. Tang and Chen reject that, using the cultural expression of origami as a way of tying together Yuna’s old home with her new one.
October 29, 2022
Having spent the years of her young life growing up in Hong Kong, Yuna feels particularly sad to leave. She isn’t sure where she belongs or how she might ever find her place in this new world. Throughout this picture book, Yuna’s special origami skill comes in handy both for herself, giving her a tangible task with which to distract her & as something to bridge the linguistic divide.
This is a very special story & one I am glad to have come upon. Truly, the only qualm I have here is that the language is rather complex which results in this book being one that will be read by an advanced English speaker. I found some of the words difficult to pronounce or understand though I have never been educated in English, I cannot say for certain if the goal was to remind readers that we all have to grow & have learning to do—that we all start from somewhere.
My comments regarding the linguistic liberties aside—as I’m sure that many English speakers might not have the same issues as I did—this story is warm & is perfectly reflected in the illustrations by Jieting Chen. I appreciated the scheme that was employed to create the world of play; the imagined structures, technology, & freedom that welcome children into the hidden world within our own.
Exploring the narrative of the young, those who follow parents & guardians into a new life is very important. These stories deserve our attention just as much as any other.
I would like to see this story style further explored in children’s literature as it is an important topic for the youth and adults who might be narrating the story's trajectory. Had the wording been selected to reflect the age group I might have really loved this as I think it is important to make stories intended for children, accessible for them too.
Thank you to Edelweiss+, Beaming Books, & Marie Tang for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This is a very special story & one I am glad to have come upon. Truly, the only qualm I have here is that the language is rather complex which results in this book being one that will be read by an advanced English speaker. I found some of the words difficult to pronounce or understand though I have never been educated in English, I cannot say for certain if the goal was to remind readers that we all have to grow & have learning to do—that we all start from somewhere.
My comments regarding the linguistic liberties aside—as I’m sure that many English speakers might not have the same issues as I did—this story is warm & is perfectly reflected in the illustrations by Jieting Chen. I appreciated the scheme that was employed to create the world of play; the imagined structures, technology, & freedom that welcome children into the hidden world within our own.
Exploring the narrative of the young, those who follow parents & guardians into a new life is very important. These stories deserve our attention just as much as any other.
I would like to see this story style further explored in children’s literature as it is an important topic for the youth and adults who might be narrating the story's trajectory. Had the wording been selected to reflect the age group I might have really loved this as I think it is important to make stories intended for children, accessible for them too.
Thank you to Edelweiss+, Beaming Books, & Marie Tang for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
January 29, 2023
Change is hard. Children are often asked to make big transitions during some of the most formative moments of their lives. From trying new activities to making friends, it’s hard if one lives in the same place - let alone moves to a different country. In Yuna’s Cardboard Castle, the picture book begins with Yuna exploring her new home while missing the “colors and shapes of her old home” and not understanding the language the other children are speaking. After finding an empty cardboard box and papers, she began to cut, tuck, and fold to create dynamic crangs and boats and flowers. After a chance encounter, she begins to share her creations and learns that even without understanding language, she could make a friend through play. It’s a sweet story that encourages empathy, understanding, and creativity and demonstrates Yuna’s resiliency.
Like Yuna, Marie Tang also immigrated to the United States as a young child. She explains in her Author’s Note that she was confronted with a very different place than she had imagined when she lived in Hong Kong. She wanted to make connections, but a language barrier made her feel invisible. With her creative use of cardboard and paper, she began to attract the attention of neighborhood kids and they played together. Tang brings these experiences in a narrative form, providing a mirror for children who have similarly migrated and feel left out and a window for children who may have a classmate who doesn’t speak the same language as they do.
Every summer, I teach a “Narratives of Immigration” course, and I look forward to adding this to my curriculum. My five year old especially enjoyed this book!
(Note: This book was given to me by Beaming Books Publishers as part of 2023 Multicultural Children's Book Day)
Like Yuna, Marie Tang also immigrated to the United States as a young child. She explains in her Author’s Note that she was confronted with a very different place than she had imagined when she lived in Hong Kong. She wanted to make connections, but a language barrier made her feel invisible. With her creative use of cardboard and paper, she began to attract the attention of neighborhood kids and they played together. Tang brings these experiences in a narrative form, providing a mirror for children who have similarly migrated and feel left out and a window for children who may have a classmate who doesn’t speak the same language as they do.
Every summer, I teach a “Narratives of Immigration” course, and I look forward to adding this to my curriculum. My five year old especially enjoyed this book!
(Note: This book was given to me by Beaming Books Publishers as part of 2023 Multicultural Children's Book Day)
January 9, 2023
Yuna and her family have just moved from Japan to the United States. Yuna doesn’t speak English yet and struggles to make friends with other kids in the neighborhood. She passes the time making elaborate origami creations and eventually bonds with a new friend over a shared passion for creating imaginative paper and cardboard structures. Before long, the other kids in the neighborhood join in and connect with Yuna through the language of play.
Based on the Author Marie Tang’s experience as a child, Yuna’s Cardboard Castles is a lovely story about moving, immigration, friendship and the power of play and imagination to bridge language and cultural differences.
The ending of the story feels rushed and not as satisfying as it could be, but that would not stop me from reading this book with my children and recommending to others.
This book was gifted to me by the publisher Beaming Books as part of 2023 MULTICULTURAL CHILDREN’S BOOK DAY
Based on the Author Marie Tang’s experience as a child, Yuna’s Cardboard Castles is a lovely story about moving, immigration, friendship and the power of play and imagination to bridge language and cultural differences.
The ending of the story feels rushed and not as satisfying as it could be, but that would not stop me from reading this book with my children and recommending to others.
This book was gifted to me by the publisher Beaming Books as part of 2023 MULTICULTURAL CHILDREN’S BOOK DAY
February 7, 2023
We LOVE cardboard books! From dressing up in boxes to making forts and castles and ships and anything you can think of, so we knew we'd love this book from the title and cover. The art is beautiful and fun, but the narrative added a new twist to this evergreen theme. Yuna doesn't just love to make cardboard creations, she also loves to make origami creations, and she does so as a way to connect with other children in a new place. It becomes the underlying structure of the language of imaginative play that bridges the differences between them, and it's delightful to travel along with the tale. We hadn't done origami in a while, but the origami boat instructions at the end inspired us to pull out our paper and make boats as well as a few other things. The origami giraffes, turtles, squid, and crocodile thank Marie Tang and Jieting Chen! A great book to share just for the fun of building and making or for the underlying SEL themes.
February 8, 2023
This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!
Hello, friends! Our book today is Yuna’s Cardboard Castles, written by Marie Tang and illustrated by Jieting Chen, a sweet story of immigration and forming friendships through creativity and play.
Yuna is nervous when her parents pack up all their things and move the family to a new country; she is met with more nerves when her new home looks so different and none of the neighborhood kids speak her language. Isolated, Yuna begins crafting origami as well as cardboard toys and structures inspired by memories of her birthplace: cranes, boats, a rice cake stand. As her cardboard castle grows, the neighborhood kids begin to take notice, but Yuna is still unsure how to communicate with them. Yet she will find that her talents for art and engineering may also be able to build bridges between people, and lead new neighbors to become new friends.
Inspiring and sweet. Anyone struggling with language barriers will relate to the difficulty of making friends when you can’t communicate verbally; even kind and friendly people can have difficulty connecting if you can’t understand each other. Tang’s empathetic and engaging text explores this concept in a way that reaches out to younger audiences, while Chen’s imaginative artwork captures the communicative powers of art and imaginative play. Backmatter features an origami craft, the length is great for a storytime (though the ending is a little abrupt, in my opinion), and JJ enjoyed it; she was inspired to make her own kite after our read. Overall, a welcoming tale that reminds us that kindness and creativity can transcend cultures and language, and it’s Baby Bookworm approved!
(Note: A copy of this book was provided to the Baby Bookworm by a representative of the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)
Be sure to check out The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!
August 16, 2022
Pleasant look at how a child from Asia fares in a new home in the US. Badly, is the first answer – but then she delves deep into her knowledge of origami, and eventually makes a world for herself that makes the local kids take notice. Based on the author’s own experiences this will clearly be used to assure some migrating children that a lack of the new locale’s language is not a permanently closed barrier to friendship, and it will of course allow you to experience origami, perhaps for the first time, but it might not have what it takes to be chosen for entertainment values. Still, as a book with an important task and message as its raison d’etre, it’s a welcome one.
August 9, 2022
3.7/5 ⭐⭐⭐
DRC recieved through Edelweiss Plus.
SYNOPSIS:
Yuna is a girl who just moved to the United States. She doesn't speak English. Her attempts to make neighborhood friends get lost in translation. But when she makes a whimsical new world with origami, they discover a new language, the language of play. This story is based on the author's own experience of moving to the USA.
Fitting in a new country as an immigrant is often neglected in children's books. This short read is perfect for children between the age of 4-7.
DRC recieved through Edelweiss Plus.
SYNOPSIS:
Yuna is a girl who just moved to the United States. She doesn't speak English. Her attempts to make neighborhood friends get lost in translation. But when she makes a whimsical new world with origami, they discover a new language, the language of play. This story is based on the author's own experience of moving to the USA.
Fitting in a new country as an immigrant is often neglected in children's books. This short read is perfect for children between the age of 4-7.
February 20, 2023
Yuna’s Cardboard Castles by Marie Tang is a sweet and lighthearted story focusing on language barriers when moving to a foreign country.
Yuna, a little girl from Japan moves to the United States. She doesn’t understand or speak the American language and struggles to make new friends. With the help of paper and cardboard creations, she soon connects with a neighborhood boy, and together they create their own cardboard world. Stunning illustrations make this unique story a great book for young children... and adults.
Yuna, a little girl from Japan moves to the United States. She doesn’t understand or speak the American language and struggles to make new friends. With the help of paper and cardboard creations, she soon connects with a neighborhood boy, and together they create their own cardboard world. Stunning illustrations make this unique story a great book for young children... and adults.
May 12, 2023
When Yuna moves from Japan to the US, everything seems new and different, including the language. So she leans on the things she knows, like origami, to relate to her new neighbors––and finds that even though they don’t speak the same language, they can communicate through shared experiences. Beautiful, bright illustrations complement the text perfectly. And I loved reading about the author’s experience moving to the US at a young age and learning how to make an origami boat in the back of the book!
August 12, 2023
Yuna was new to this town, this country, and the English language. She could not communicate with the other children in her neighborhood with spoken word. She decided to do what she could to engage the children. She created with origami. Back matter from the author and an origami definition and guide allows readers to create their own piece of art.
This is a sweet story. I hope all libraries will consider this addition to their collection as it "speaks" in special ways to the power of communication and welcoming possibilities toward new immigrants.
This is a sweet story. I hope all libraries will consider this addition to their collection as it "speaks" in special ways to the power of communication and welcoming possibilities toward new immigrants.
March 2, 2023
This is a lovely story about a girl named Yuna, whose family just arrived from another country. Yuna does not speak any English, which complicates making friends. But her playful origami creations speak for themselves, piquing the other kids’ curiosity and sparking new friendships. This heartwarming story will get kids thinking about what it’s like to be the new kid, or any kid who is having trouble fitting in or being accepted.
March 12, 2023
Yuna has recently moved to America from Japan with her family, but she doesn't speak the language.
She wants to fit in and make friends, but when the language barrier hits the wall, Yuna gets creative with Origami.
Her imagination takes over and...well just read it and find out.
#OwnVoices author Marie Tang and Illustrator Jieting Chen bring to vibrant life the art of origami, breaking language barriers in your own way, and exposing others to different cultures.
She wants to fit in and make friends, but when the language barrier hits the wall, Yuna gets creative with Origami.
Her imagination takes over and...well just read it and find out.
#OwnVoices author Marie Tang and Illustrator Jieting Chen bring to vibrant life the art of origami, breaking language barriers in your own way, and exposing others to different cultures.
July 11, 2023
After moving from Japan to the United States, Yuna uses her artistic talents to bridge language and culture barriers when she shares some paper, cardboard, and her imagination with the kids in her new neighborhood. Unique illustrations show how the language of play is the only one she needs to speak to make new friends. Endnotes include an Author’s Note about the backstory, a description of origami, and instructions for making a work of origami. Where will you sail away to in your origami boat?
March 3, 2023
Yuna just moved from Japan and is desperate to make friends with the neighborhood children. When the language barrier proves too much of an obstacle, Yuna starts making origami to help. Based off the author's life and includes information about origami and instructions on how to make origami boats.
February 15, 2023
Beautifully illustrated and wonderfully written, Yuna is a great example for kids to show them how to forge new friendships while showcasing their ethnic background with confidence and creativity. We need more picture books like this to embrace diversity and inclusivity!
February 16, 2023
A heartwarming story of a child who moves to place where she does not speak the language, but she makes friends through the universal language of play, in this case cardboard buildings and origami boats. Lovely lyrical language! And a bonus step-by-step origami craft at the end.
October 4, 2023
Yuna moves to America but doesnt speek the same language as the other kids here. A book about becoming friends through origami and how you can make friends even if you cant speak the same language.
A how to fold an origami boat in the back of the book
Themes: origami,new friendship, ESL
A how to fold an origami boat in the back of the book
Themes: origami,new friendship, ESL
Want to read
June 2, 2022Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss.
March 31, 2023
I enjoyed this thoughtful picture book about creativity and compassion.
February 7, 2024
This was a very simple but fun read
August 17, 2023
Yuna’s Cardboard Castles features a girl struggling with her new environment. She misses Japan and doesn’t know how to relate to the architecture, language, and culture of the United States. She does excel at paper and cardboard art, which opens a pathway to friendship and acceptance. This is a lovely, heart-warming story. I truly felt for Yuna. I was also wowed by the amazing illustrations.
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