The Key Collection

by Andrea Cheng, Yangsook Choi (Illustrator)

An intergenerational and cross-cultural story of love and friendship.

The lines around Ni Ni’s eyes were deeper than before. Her hair was thin and grey. I wanted to tell her that she didn’t have to move. She didn’t have to move at all. Nobody would make her. We could explain to Auntie Helen that she was not ready. Not yet. Not for a long while.

Xiao Jimmy’s Grandma Ni Ni is his favorite person in all the world. Ni Ni cooks delicious jiao zi, teaches Jimmy Chinese characters, and always has wonderful stories and fascinating objects—like the key collection—to share with him. So when Jimmy learns that Ni Ni must move far away to California, he feels he’s losing his best friend. In time, however, Jimmy discovers there are ways to bridge distance, and to make new friends in the process.

This warm and reassuring novel explores a special relationship that crosses cultures and generations, and holds strong when tested.

112 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2003

About the author

Andrea Cheng is a Hungarian-American children's author and illustrator. The child of Hungarian immigrants, she was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio in an extended family with three generations under one roof. Her family spoke Hungarian and English at home. After graduating with a BA in English from Cornell University, she went to Switzerland, where she apprenticed to a bookbinder, attended a school of bookbinding called The Centro del Bel Libro, and learned French. Upon her return, she returned to Cornell to study Chinese and earned an MS in linguistics. Now she teaches English as a Second Language at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College. Her children’s books include Grandfather Counts, Marika, The Key Collection, Honeysuckle House, Where the Steps Were, The Bear Makers, and Brushing Mom’s Hair. With her husband, Jim Cheng, she has three children: Nicholas, Jane, and Ann.

Reviews

[Joy Musselman · Rating 4 out of 5]

a sweet little early reader chapter book about a family from China and the difficulty of accepting changes. I thought it was a really really sweet book. It gives a great glimpse into the Chinese culture and ways.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

lovely book for kids. it captures the awkwardness of coming from a minority culture.

[Jacey Hanssen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book with my 2nd grade class and they loved it. It gave us a chance to research about China and how to say some of the words.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great chapter book from Andrea Cheng.

[Marissa Kesinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!! KEYSSS