Navigating Night

by Julie Leung, Angie Kang (Illustrator)

A girl guides her dad on his route delivering Chinese take-out food in this touching picture book, written by an APALA-award winner, that celebrates the unique bond between immigrant parents and their children.

Every night, a girl must help her dad, whose English is not as good as hers, make deliveries for their small family restaurant. Sitting next to him in the car, she studies a map and gives him directions in Cantonese. She helps him get to the places he needs to go.

She hates doing this, though. Hates carrying grease-stained boxes of Mongolian beef and moo goo gai pan to customers' doors. Hates being different from the kids behind these doors. Why can't her family be normal like everyone else’s?

But when her dad tells her about how he immigrated, all alone as a teenager, to the United States, she comes to better understand him, and appreciate how he has made her American life possible.

Genres: Picture Books, Family, Immigration, Food, Childrens, Fiction, Aapi

48 pages, Library Binding

First published March 10, 2026

About the author

JULIE LEUNG is an award-winning author of numerous children’s books. Her picture book, The Truth About Dragons is a Caldecott Honor and winner of the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature. By day, she works in book publishing. She was raised in the sleepy suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia, though it may be more accurate to say she grew up in Oz and came of age in Middle-earth.

Reviews

[Evalynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The art in this book is gorgeous. The independent bookstore I work at had been sent a collection of prints from upcoming storybooks to be released this spring, and Navigating Night had been one of them. As someone who grew up in the Northeast, I could feel the cold of the night and the rain depicted in the picture. 🌧 After reading more about the story, I pre-ordered this book immediately. I have no regrets. It is phenomenally beautiful and touching.

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a very informative book about a Chinese family who owns a restaurant. The father speaks a little or no English, and it is important for his daughter to go with him to make deliveries from the restaurant. She looks at a map and directs him to the correct house. She wishes that she did not have to do this because she wants to be like the other little girls. One night her father shares his life when he was growing up and suddenly she feels much better about her life. I think this is an important book for children to read to know how others live and why they may be different from each other.

[Angela De Groot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richly illustrated story about a girl who wishes she was at home watching tv and eating dinner like most other kids. Instead, she must go with her father to deliver takeout from their family’s restaurant. She is the navigator and the translator. On this rainy night, her father shares his story of coming to America and she realizes how special their relationship is. “Together we find our way home.”

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The text never specifies what sort of night these deliveries are happening on. Illustrator Angie Kang chose to use weather to highlight the girl's emotional state. When she is tired and frustrated, it's raining. Kang's illustrations of rain and how it blurs the details and refracts the street lights are some of the best depictions of rain I've seen. When her father finishes his story and her mood improves, the rain clears and the moon comes out.

There's an afterword by the author and the illustrator explaining the inspiration for the story and the artistic methods used to bring it to life. I hope you give it a read.

https://pussreboots.com/blog/2026/com...


Family Uhoria Blue Highway 33CC33

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations and evocative text capture an evening of a child helping her father make food deliveries from her family's Chinese restaurant. Bittersweet and infused with memories, you almost can hear the windshield wipers and the rain as you turn each page.

[Helen Baldwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I love about the new picture book, NAVIGATING NIGHT, by Julie Leung, illustrated by Angie Kang, is the story almost entirely takes place in a car on a rainy night. Reminded me of certain in-between school and home times when my children were younger and the car felt so cozy. In NAVIGATING NIGHT a young girl spends her evenings helping her father navigate the streets of their town as they deliver dinners from their Chinese restaurant.

“ Our first stop is one of our regular customers. When we arrive, an old lady with a cat greets us. She orders the same meal every time: beef and broccoli cooked extra soft. Baba puts the bag on her table, then hands her a small bottle with a blue label...

“My dad wants to give you this oil for your pain” I translate. The lady smiles at us and says thank you. “What a good kid you are, helping your dad.”

But I don’t want to be a good kid. I want to be a normal kid.”

She tells her father that she doesn’t want to go on deliveries any more, that other kids don’t have to do this. Her father begins to talk about when he was young and getting on a plane by himself and coming to New York City. With every delivery they make we watch them understand each other more. Angie Kang’s illustrations create the inside the car feeling and the rainy night becomes part of the narrative. At the beginning of their deliveries it is dark and very rainy, there’s tension in the car then. When the final delivery is made, we see the moon breaking through the clouds and the rain has stopped.

“Baba and I have learned to navigate night, down unlit roads and past unfamiliar street signs, looking for new paths ahead.

Together we find our way home.”

This book is extremely touching in both words and illustrations.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

[Stephanie ((Strazzybooks)) · Rating 5 out of 5]

a sweet and touching story about an immigration experience

[Bethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars. Based on author’s childhood in 1990s, biggest tell that she’s using a map to navigate instead of gps. At beginning father’s dialog is in written Chinese, towards end he speaks in English. The girl doesn’t want to go along on deliveries anymore, wants to be a regular kid doing homework front of the tv. Then father tells how he got to the USA, uncle could only sponsor 1 relative. He got lost all the time and isn’t lost anymore that she is here (part he says in English)
Author dedicates story to the many children of immigrants who have to serve as helpers for parents yet they are the reason parents are here, to provide a better life for children.
Gorgeous atmospheric illustrations by 2026 Caldecott honor, case cover. Really dark and rainy at the beginning but it clears with moon coming out at the end.

[ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really beautiful story and absolutely stunning illustrations. I spent a lot of my 90s youth in my dad's truck, learning to navigate southern California via Thomas Guide (both for his work and for fun) and it was lovely to see that same kind of experience through a different lens.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully atmospheric.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations accompany this heartwarming story of a young girl who helps her father deliver food from their restaurant. The girl is in charge of using a map to help direct her father to the different addresses. She feels frustrated that she has to help him with this because "other kids don't have to do this." Her father tells her about his experience leaving his country and what it was like to come to America.

[Ann Haefele · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an important book about the immigration experience and how it affects the immigrants’ children. Gorgeous artwork of a rainy night compliments the little girl’s feelings about having to accompany her father while delivering food from their restaurant. She helps with translation and giving directions, but really wishes she could just be home doing normal kid things. This reminded me a bit of the book The Interpreter by Olivia Abtahi. They both show the experience of immigrants’ children helping family with American life.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author’s note in this picture book tells us that the theme is based on the author’s actual experiences with her family who ran a Chinese restaurant and made deliveries. Illustrations done on watercolor paper using gouache, crayon, watercolor, and pastels
are stunningly beautiful and depict night very well.
I know it is early in the year. but this title is on my list for the 2027 Caldecott award.

My opinion is children raised to work in their family’s business learn skills and understand concepts that prepare them to be responsible and resilient adults. Thanks for sharing your experience, Julie Lexington.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is just ridiculously amazing. I absolutely love the story - it's honest, it's real, there's love, there's impatience, there's a realization. And it's based on a true story! The art, oh my gosh, this is giving Caldecott vibes. The illustrator describes her process a bit in the back, and it is so enlightening. Give this book all the awards.

[Lenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

So beautifully written and illustrated

[Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a touching look at one night in the life of a young Cantonese girl who just wants to be able to stay at home like a "normal" kid, instead of helping her father deliver Chinese food. It exhibits the sometimes-stressful relationship between first generation immigrants and their parents very well, but other parts —the positive relationship with regulars, the embarassment (of the girl) of running into other children while making deliveries, and the "night that darkened an entire nation" that was the catalyst to the father moving to the USA— were not developed as much (especially that last one: The events in Hong Kong are not named, and specifics are unforthcoming).

The father also does not speak English very well (that's why the girl has to help him navigate), so sometimes when he speaks, it is written with Chinese characters. This might be a con for some —It does throw off the flow if reading aloud, admittedly— but it also helps underscore the "foreignness" of the experience. I would've liked for there to at least been romanization of the words, so when it says "下一個地址 係邊度?," readers could see "haa jat go dei zi hai bin dou?" underneath, and have something to say in that place.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspired by the author's childhood experience, this is a beautifully poignant picture book about a young girl navigating the routes for her father as they deliver Chinese take-out food for the family restaurant. The child would rather not go on these runs and instead be a "normal kid" yet she comes to understand the importance of her help and all that her father has done for family. An evocative gem of a story about immigration, responsibility and family love.

"Before I had you, I would get so lost . . ."

From the authors note:
". . . children of immigrants often serve double roles. Our parents made the sacrifice of leaving their homelands to ensure better futures for us. We are the reason they left. At the same time, in order to survive in this world, we must, at an early age, become our parents' translators, advocates, and navigators. We sacrifice many typical childhood experiences. In Navigating Night, I wanted to honor this unique bond and pure form of love."

[Sherrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet story of a young girl being both the daughter and protector of sorts. A young girl helps her Baba make food deliveries for their family restaurant. When she decides she wants to be just a regular kid who doesn’t have to help deliver food her Baba shares his experience when he first came to America snd it brings them closer together. Lovely story and beautiful illustrations.

[Tam Newell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mr Sharp recommendation. Pic book about a girl who helps her father deliver meals for their restaurant as he cannot speak English.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A girl and her father drive through a rainy night delivering Chinese takeout orders. She holds the map and helps direct him while he carefully guides the car through unfamiliar streets and stormy weather. Embarrassed by helping with deliveries, she finally admits her feelings, prompting her father to share the story of how he came to America after the Cultural Revolution and learned to navigate an entirely new world.

The artwork is the true standout here, atmospheric and deeply expressive. I will admit I am always a sucker for a picture book set in the rain, and this one uses weather beautifully to mirror both emotional distance and connection. What lingers most is the interaction between father and daughter. When she tells him she wants a different life, he gently reminds her of everything he has had to navigate, first from China to the United States and then through everyday life without fully knowing the language. In turn, he helps her understand how important she is to him, not just as his daughter, but as the person who helps him navigate the world around him.

The story thoughtfully captures the different hardships faced by immigrants and their children, showing how both generations carry their own struggles, expectations, and forms of loneliness. It is a quiet, reflective picture book with emotional depth and a strong sense of atmosphere. While I think it is beautifully crafted and thematically rich, I am less certain about its broad student appeal compared to more dynamic or immediately engaging picture books.

[Judy Ripke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations in a book that will help others understand the experiences of immigrant children.

[Ms. C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story and the art is superb.

[Holly Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

On par with Watercress and Interpreter. Daughter of an immigrant is tasked with navigating the city to delivery evening food orders for her father. Resentful of the task and the responsibility, her father slowly divulges the circumstances stance that led to his emigration to NY. Will she ever understand how their struggles are similar?

[Cara Byrne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a breathtaking picture book that would pair nicely with Watercress. It's an early favorite for the 2027 Caldecott.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A vulnerable and tender depiction of a father and daughter making food deliveries together because he needs her to help navigate for him.

[Roben · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young girl serves as navigator for her immigrant father as they make deliveries from their Chinese restaurant. Set in the 1990s, there is no GPS so the girl must use a street map to locate where they need to go. She yearns for a normal life and complains to her Baba. He tells her a little about his own history of traveling from China which helps her understand how invaluable her help is. Both author and illustrator notes at the end shed additional light on this very personal story.

This book has definite Caldecott potential - the illustrations are breathtaking. Plus the weather an pictures mirror the mood of the young girl. Lots of storming at the beginning but then, at the end, the clouds part and the moon shines through.
Peek under the dust jacket - the cover of the book is different.

[Meaghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give it 20 stars I would. The story is heartwarming, powerful, and carries a message kids will understand and adults need to hear. The art is stunning! I will be keeping an eye out for more of their work. I know it’s early but this may be my favorite of the year.

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Contender for Caldecott

[Ccaywood · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young girl navigates as her father delivers Chinese food from his restaurant. She sees other kids engaged in more childlike activities and envies them. When she cannot locate a new customer’s address, her guilt and resentment spill out. Her father responds by talking about the fear that engulfed his homeland so his family sent him as a child to America. He tells how he got lost when he first arrived and how grateful he is now to have her guide him to customers’ homes. Finally they return to the restaurant for a family supper.

The author says in her note following the story, “Children of immigrants often serve double roles: Our parents made the sacrifice of leaving their homelands to ensure better futures for us. We are the reason they left. At the same time, in order to survive in this new world, we must, at an early age, become our parents’ translators, advocates, and navigators. We sacrifice many typical childhood experiences.” I quote this because I cannot improve on it.

The story is tell-able to a primary grade audience and could prompt thoughtful discussion. The lovely illustrations enhance the mood of dark streets on a rainy night. Immigrant families will felt seen and Americans with more distance from their immigrant ancestors will gain insight into what they endured for their descendants’ sake.

[LinLin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story of an immigrant family where a father leans on his daughter for delivering food. While doing that he shares his story about how he came to be in New York City.