Eleven-year-old Danny Chung loves drawing more than anything - certainly more than maths, which according to his dad and every else, is what he is 'supposed' to be good at. He also loves having his own room where he can draw in peace, His life is turned upside down when a surprise that he's been promised turn out to be his little, wrinkly, ex-math champion grandmother from China. What's worse, Nai Nai has to share his room, AND she takes the top bunk! Before long though it becomes clear to Danny that there is more to Nai Nai than meets the eye, and that they have more in common than he thought possible.
This book is perfect for P4+ and promotes conversations about stereotyping, friendship and art. It also written from the underrepresented point of view of a British Chinese child who is grappling with trying to find their place within two different cultures.
Cover design by Dominica Clements
Photograph © Maisie Chan
Maisie Chan is British Chinese children's author from Birmingham. She loves dim sum, yoga and travelling. She has written early readers for Hachette and Big Cat Collins, and has a collection of myths and legends out with Scholastic. She is the author of Danny Chung Does Not Do Maths (U.K.) also known as Danny Chung Sums It Up (U.S.), and the Tiger Warrior chapter book series (M Chan). She runs Bubble Tea Writers Network to support and encourage writers of East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) descent in the U.K. She has a dog called Miko who has big eyes. She lives in Glasgow with her family.