The protagonist of Another Word for Neighbor, Han, only likes his tea, the newspaper and his plants—the latter because they can’t talk. So it’s not exactly a match made in heaven when young Kate and Olly, who happen to be especially chatty, move in next door. No matter how much Han ignores or chastises the pair, they persist in knocking on Han’s door, climbing up his peach tree, committing federal offenses by opening up his mailbox and asking lots of questions. These questions are mostly silly ones about Han’s hair, until one day Kate asks about the portrait of a woman prominently hanging on Han’s wall. Han stares ahead in grief as he tells the children that the woman was his late wife, Lan.
Later, the children bring an orchid to Han in an effort to cheer him up, prompting Han to remember how Lan valued hospitality. Han invites the children in and begins to open up to them, sharing snacks, stories about Lan and even a recipe for his favorite food, pho, which he hasn’t made since her death.
Angela Pham Krans, whose picture book Finding Papa was an Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature honoree, depicts the growth of this intergenerational relationship with charming, witty prose that young readers will find both educational and humorous. Han is described as “old and mostly ornery,” which the narration clarifies as meaning “grumpy.” On the other hand, “Kate and Olly were inquisitive adventurers. Those are words for never giving up!” The sweet, cheerful atmosphere is complemented well by Thai My Phuong’s soft color palette and expressive characters, which inhabit a detailed, lively world of lush greenery and friendly cats, dogs and birds—animals just as curious as Kate and Olly. Another Word for Neighbor balances its heartfelt depiction of grief and isolation with all the warmth of a steaming bowl of pho.
