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Be Careful, Xiao Xin!

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( 145 ratings, 38 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Be Careful, Xiao Xin! by Alice Pung is a heartwarming tale exploring themes of identity and belonging. It follows the adventures and challenges of Xiao Xin, a spirited character navigating life's twists and turns. With cultural insights and emotional depth, it offers readers a journey of personal growth and resilience, set against a vibrant backdrop.
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Format: Hardback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you appreciate stories that vibrantly capture the tensions between cultural identities and the quest for belonging. The narrative offers a humorous and insightful look at the life of an Australian-Chinese teenager navigating family expectations and personal aspirations, making it relatable and engaging for anyone interested in multicultural experiences.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

From best-selling author Alice Pung and renowned illustrator Sher Rill Ng comes an extraordinarily powerful and moving book about how the past can shape the future.

Xiao Xin believes he is a red fire warrior, but his family are always telling him to be careful. They believe the world is a dangerous place. Too dangerous for a little boy on his own.

They don't understand what I can do!

They don't understand what I can be!

Renowned storytellers Alice Pung and Sher Rill Ng bring to life a beautiful and tender story about learning to conquer your own fearsβ€” as a child, and as an adult.

Awards

Notable - CBCA Picture Book 2023

Winner - Educational Publishing Awards Australia 2023 (Educational Picture Book)

Winner - IBBY Ena Noel Award 2024 (Sher Rill Ng as Illustrator)

Longlist - The Danz Children's Book Award 2024 (Picture Book)

ALSC Notable Children's Books List 2025

Praise for Be Careful, Xiao Xin!

'... a beautiful story by two masterful creators ...' - Gabrielle Wang, 2022-2023 Australian Children's Laureate

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781922033932

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty Ltd

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 07 September 2022

Country: Australia

Imprint: Working Title Press

Contributors:

  • Illustrated by Sher Rill Ng

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 10.0mm

Width: 288.0mm

Height: 219.0mm

Weight: 426g

Pages: 48

About the Author

Alice Pung is the current Artist in Residence at Janet Clarke Hall, the University of Melbourne, and Adjunct Professor at RMIT University's School of Media and Communication. She is the bestselling author of the memoirs Unpolished Gem and Her Father's Daughter, and the essay collection Close to Home, as well as the editor of the anthologies Growing Up Asian in Australia and My First Lesson. Her debut novel Laurinda won the Ethel Turner Prize at the 2016 NSW Premier's Literary Awards. Her second novel, One Hundred Days, was shortlisted for the 2022 Miles Franklin Award, and has been optioned for a film. She is the author of children's books including Millie Mak the Maker and Be Careful, Xiao Xin! (ill. Sher Rill Ng), When Granny Came to Stay (ill. Sally Soweol Han) and the Meet Marly books (ill. Lucia Masciullo). Alice was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for services to literature in 2022. Sher Rill Ng is a Woi Wurrung/Melbourne-based illustrator. She designed and illustrated for SaaS companies before releasing her first author-illustrated picture book Our Little Inventor in 2019. In 2022, Our Little Inventor was adapted into a children's opera, composed by Emma Jayakumar and presented by the West Australian Opera. Her work includes middle grade book covers for The Twelve by Cindy Lin, The Rogues by Lian Tanner and Winnie Zeng Unleashes a Legend by Katie Zhao. Most recently Sher Rill has illustrated Be Careful, Xiao Xin! written by Alice Pung.

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