Ava Lin, Super-Duper Happy

Ava Lin #3

by Vicky Fang

A school walkathon! A visit from Popo! Six-year-old Ava’s week has SUPER potential—with just a few snags along the way—in this spot-on third adventure in Vicky Fang’s warm, funny chapter book series.

Ava Lin is in first grade, and she’s really good at dancing, making up games, and finding treasure. This week she’s super-duper excited, because it’s going to be the BEST WEEK EVER. First, her popo—Chinese for grandmother—is coming to visit, and Ava can’t wait to show off the special acorn, button, Post-it note, hair clip, and inside part of a marker that she found on the school playground. And second, this Sunday is the school walkathon. If Ava and her best friend, Kushi, manage to walk twenty-five laps, they will each earn a gold medal! But the week doesn’t go exactly to plan—like when Popo mistakes Ava’s treasures for trash, or when Ava discovers that fundraising for a walkathon is not quite as easy as she had hoped. Is there a way to make this week a super-duper happy one regardless?

96 pages, Paperback

Published June 10, 2025

About the author

Vicky Fang is the author of the Layla and the Bots chapter books series, the Best Buddies early reader series, the I Can Code board book series, and the picture book Invent-a-Pet. She is the author-illustrator of Friendbots, AlphaBot, and the forthcoming Ava Lin and One Mad Cat series. A former Google product designer, she now writes and illustrates children’s books full-time. Vicky Fang lives in California. You can learn more at vickyfang.com.

Reviews

[YSBR · Rating 5 out of 5]

First-grader Ava Lin returns in this third installment of Vicky Fang’s illustrated early chapter book series. With her typical exuberance, she’s looking forward to two big events: the arrival of her grandmother (Popo, pronounced “paw paw” Ava informs us, demonstrating with two furry mittens) and her school’s annual fundraising walkathon. As in the earlier books, Ava (an heir apparent to Ramona Quimby) sometimes misreads situations; here the much anticipated visit from Popo gets off to a rocky start when the grandma throws out some of the little girl’s playground treasures, exclaiming “Aiya! Too dirty!” Ava’s is also stressed about finding sponsors for the walkathon and teasing from the rotten Justin, a slightly older family friend. But once again, Ava finds support from her parents, who help negotiate the divide between the two generations and also employ a calming ritual to help her get back on track. The whole family helps Ava meet her ambitious goal of 25 laps around the school track, with Popo enlivening the event with her exuberant dancing. Fang’s simple line drawings are funny while also providing support for beginning readers. Fans of graphic novels will appreciate the occasional talk bubbles, but these little books are actually novels, with short manageable chapters and appealing cartoon art that will give kids a break from decoding. With their recognizable settings, small problems, and gentle comedy, Ava Lin’s adventures will be a great addition to children’s rooms’ series shelves. Ava and her family cue as Chinese-American through their surname, the book’s illustrations, and the many cultural references, including dim sum (which Popo calls “yum cha”) and mahjong as plot elements. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful addition to the Ava Lin early chapter book series focusing on how to handle disappointment when plans do not go as intended.

Ava Lin is excited about a number of things-her Popo (grandmother) is coming for a visit and the annual school walkathon is almost here. But her Popo doesn’t seem to like the treasures she shows her, and classmate Justin keeps taunting her about only getting a bronze medal at last year’s walkathon. But Ava’s dad helps her reduce her anxiety with deep breathing, she and Popo discover many things they love to do together, and best friend Kushi is going to walk with her and both are determined to earn gold medals this year by completing all 25 laps.

In the Ava Lin series, author Vicky Fang embeds important life lessons in highly relatable storylines. This 3rd installment continues to do that as well as the pattern of frequent illustrations throughout the text. Font is large and there is plenty of white space making this an outstanding choice for 1st-3rd grade readers.

Representation: AAPI family, diverse elementary school class

[Wade Huggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ava Lin Super-Duper Happy is an engaging early reader that will keep children in grades 1–3 turning the pages. The black-and-white illustrations add interest and help maintain young readers’ attention. Ava Lin’s family is multigenerational and Chinese, adding cultural representation to the story. Recommended for ages 6–9 by the SEPA School Library Book Reviewers.