Animator and illustrator Young Vo, a Vietnamese refugee to the United States, tells a heartwarming (and autobiographical) tale about a young boy finding his way in a new world where he can't speak the language. Vo's debut picture book is illustrated with vividly expressive mixed-media art, and the synergy of his words and images creates a meaningful story sure to resonate with pre-, beginning and confident readers.
Gibberish takes place over the course of Dat's first day of school. He doesn't speak the language of his bus driver, teacher or fellow students. When they talk, all he hears is gibberish. Dat feels isolated and unhappy: "Without knowing gibberish there was no place to sit, no place to stand, and no one to play with." As Dat muddles through this lonely day, every time he tells someone his name, they mangle it, never pronouncing it correctly. But unexpected encounters on the playground and the bus ride home brighten Dat's day and change his whole outlook.
Vo inventively uses black-and-white and color illustrations, as well as two drastically different artistic styles, to set tone and tell a visual story. The gibberish speakers are portrayed as grayscale, "Rubber Hose" (think Steamboat Mickey) monsters (at least, to start), while Dat is in full color and illustrated in a more contemporary style. Dat being surrounded by scary, incomprehensible beings elicits strong emotion--it is easy for a person of any age to identify with his fear. But there is a happy ending. The ingenuity and playfulness of the art, as well as the book's overarching message, make this title a must for any child's library. --Jen Forbus, freelancer