Picking Tea with Baba

Working in a Chinese tea garden is hard work, but it's rewarding when it’s done with family in this 2026 Batchelder Honor Book.

This day-in-the-life picture book for 5-9-year-olds engages the senses as it centers around family and working together while celebrating Chinese culture.

A young boy and his brother travel with their parents up the mountainside to their tea garden for a day of work.

They delight in the animals they see, compete to see who can pick the most tea leaves, take a lunch break, and weather an unexpected rainstorm. At the end of the day, they trek back down the mountain to sell the leaves before going home.

A picture book that awakens the senses, young kids experience a faraway cultural tradition while feeling the familiarity of family and togetherness.

2026 Mildred L. Batchelder Award Honor Book