WOW Review: Volume XVII, Issue 2 • Page 8 of 9 • Worlds of Words

Night Market Rescue
Written by Charlotte Cheng
Illustrated by Amber Ren
Rocky Pond Books, 2023, 32 pp (unpaged)
ISBN: 9780593531723

Set in the night market in Taipei, Taiwan, this picturebook beautifully captures the bond that forms between a stray dog named GoGo and a lost little girl – culminating in their journey to find a home and become a family. The story begins with GoGo resting alone in a quiet spot on a hot and humid summer evening. Lured by the sweet and spicy aromas wafting through the air, he ventures into the bustling night market, a world he has never encountered before. The lively streets are illuminated by red, oval-shaped lanterns and lined with rows of local food vendors displaying eye-catching signs lit by colorful electric lights and large Chinese characters.

Hungry and curious, GoGo seizes opportunities to slurp ginger tea and chew baby bok choy left on the ground when no one is watching. As he continues to explore, GoGo notices a little girl sitting alone under a tree, her knees drawn up and her arms wrapped tightly around them. GoGo comes gently closer to her and quickly becomes her friend. Together, they explore the night market until she finds her worried parents. Though GoGo is left alone, he is not truly alone – the little girl and her parents welcome him into their family. Finally, GoGo finds a place to call home.

This heartwarming story is great as a read aloud. The simple, lyrical text gently conveys the emotions of both GoGo and the little girl. The story ends with a touching moment:

Now GoGo is … alone.
BUT …
she whispers to the strangers,
who then turn to look at GoGo
and they call to him with open arms.
Now GoGo’s found …
a HOME.

This book invites readers to connect with the evolving inner emotions of GoGo and the little girl through visual images. Their delight in forming a new friendship is beautifully conveyed through the soft red and pink hues that fill their background, symbolizing mutual care, empathy, and emotional comfort. In contrast, GoGo’s loneliness and sadness upon being alone again are depicted through his posture as he walks downcast along the busy night market street, unnoticed by the bustling crowd. The story culminates in a heartwarming depiction of GoGo’s joy and sense of belonging as he finds a home. Soft-colored, vibrant bubbles scattered across the two-page spreads express GoGo’s happiness and the comfort of being part of a family.

Given the themes of mutual care and empathy, Night Market Rescue would pair well with Rescue and Jessica: A Life-Changing Friendship by Jessica Kensky, Patrick Downes, and Scott Magoon (2018). The book tells the story of the strong bond between Jessica, who was injured in the Boston Marathon bombing, and her service dog, Rescue. It highlights how both Jessica and Rescue care for and support each other. Another great pairing is The Cat Man of Aleppo by Karim Shamsi-Basha, Irene Latham, and Yuko Shimizu (2020), which tells the story of mutual care between humans and animals. Set against the backdrop of the Syrian civil war, the book focuses on Alaa and stray cats, who rely on each other for emotional comfort, survival, and hope amidst the devastation of war.

Night Market Rescue is written by Charlotte Cheng, an accomplished author and illustrator of children’s books. Drawing inspiration from her childhood memories of visiting the Taiwanese night markets with her parents, she has woven these experiences into the heart of this story. Charlotte’s other work includes Roar-Choo! (2024), I Miss You Most (2024), and A Moment in Time (2012). Charlotte actively engages students in reading and writing through school visits, leads interactive workshops for both children and adults, and provides consultation on children’s book projects. Residing in the San Francisco Bay Area, Charlotte invites readers to explore her creative work on her website.

Amber Ren is a visual development artist specializing in background painting, color styling, and children’s book illustration. She was born and raised in China and moved to California with her family. Her debut picturebook BECAUSE (2019), written by Mo Willems, is a New York Times Best Seller, and her work includes The Star in You (Katrina Moore, 2024) and Looking for a Jumbie (Tracey Baptiste, 2021). Her work was featured in The Eric Carle Museum’s first online exhibition, ART in Place: Social Distancing in the Studio. Amber is currently working in the animation industry and illustrating picturebooks during her free time. Her work can be explored on her website.

Junko Sakoi, Tucson Unified School District

Authors retain copyright over the vignettes published in this journal and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under the following Creative Commons License: