Atimelyandtimelesspicturebookaboutimmigrationthatdemonstratesthepowerofdiversity,acceptance,andtolerancefromagiftedstoryteller.AnALSCNotableChildren’sBookof2021AKirkusBestBooksof2020ASchoolLibraryJournalBestBooksof2020Winnerofthe2021OhioanaBookAwardAnAnneIzardStorytellers’ChoiceAward,2022“Anengaging,beautiful,andmemorablebook.“--KirkusReviews,starredreview“Lushillustrationsandastrongmessageofhopeandperseverancemakethisastandouttitle.“--SchoolLibraryJournal,starredreviewWhenIfirstcametothiscountry,Ifeltsoalone.Ayoungimmigrantgirljoinsherauntanduncleinanewcountrythatisunfamiliartoher.Shestruggleswithloneliness,withafiercelongingforthecultureandfamiliarityofhome,untiloneday,heraunttakesheronawalk.Astheduostrollsthroughtheircitypark,thegirl’sauntbeginstotellheranoldmyth,andastorywithinthestorybegins.Alongtimeago,agroupofrefugeesarrivedonaforeignshore.Thelocalkingmetthem,determinedtorefusetheirrequestforrefuge.Buttherewasalanguagebarrier,sothekingfilledaglasswithmilkandpointedtoitasawayofsayingthatthelandwasfullandcouldn’taccommodatethestrangers.Then,theleaderoftherefugeesdissolvedsugarintheglassofmilk.Hismessagewasclear:Likesugarinmilk,ourpresenceinyourcountrywillsweetenyourlives.Thekingembracedtherefugee,welcominghimandhispeople.ThefolktaledepictedinthisbookwasapartofauthorThrityUmrigar’sZoroastrianupbringingasaParsichildinIndia,butresonatesforchildrenofallbackgrounds,especiallythosecomingtoanewhomeland.
