Sarah Yong, a former Teacher-in-Residence from The Bridge School, and her sister have written a compelling story about a young girl with cerebral palsy and her pet bird as they both seek to find friendship, freedom and their place in the world. Mei assigns colors to the voices in her world in an imaginative, creative way. This is an excellent book for all children.
Mei is a smart and imaginative ten-year-old with Cerebral Palsy who longs to connect with people around her. Unable to express herself clearly, Mei feels unheard and alone, caged up like her pet bird Kakoo. Mei and Kakoo’s stories intertwine as they discover friendship, freedom and their place in the world.
Sarah and Lois Yong masterfully welcome us into Mei’s mind through a delightful use of colors as the embodiment of voices. Vignettes of Mei’s daily life give us a glimpse of what it’s like to express yourself through Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). Set in the island-city of Singapore, local references and thoughtful details invite us into Mei and Kakoo’s world as they discover the power of words to bring freedom and connectivity.
A beautiful story about navigating complex communication needs, being brave and finding a voice.