A children's book cover titled 'Jenny Mei Is Sad' by Tracy Subisak, featuring an illustration of two young girls holding hands, one with dark skin and hair in two buns wearing a yellow sweater, and the other with light skin and black hair wearing a red sweater.

Written & Illustrated by Tracy Subisak

Jenny Mei Is Sad

My friend Jenny Mei is sad.
But you might not be able to tell.

A Kirkus Best Picture Book

A Book Riot Best Picture Book

Chicago Public Library Best of the Best

2022 Floyd’s Pick Book Award Winner

2021 Oregon Book Award Finalist

Choose To Read Ohio 2023 & 2024

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About this book

With this educational and entertaining picture book, learn how to approach difficult emotions with compassion and understanding—and be the best friend you can be.

My friend Jenny Mei is sad. But you might not be able to tell.

Jenny Mei still smiles a lot. She makes everyone laugh. And she still likes blue Popsicles the best. But, her friend knows that Jenny Mei is sad, and does her best to be there to support her.

This beautifully illustrated book is perfect for introducing kids to the complexity of sadness, and to show them that the best way to be a good friend, especially to someone sad, is by being there for the fun, the not-fun, and everything in between.

The details

RELEASE DATE: June 15, 2021

AGES: 4-8

PAGES: 40

FORMAT: Hardcover

PUBLISHER: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

ISBN-13: 9780316537711

Look Inside

tracy-subisak-JennyMei_2_72.jpeg
Illustration of two children with mouths open, appearing to be blowing or spitting at each other, with one saying 'NYAH' and the other 'UNNGHHH'.
Two children greeting each other outside their houses with backpacks on, while another child in the background waves from inside a house.
Children greeting each other, children sitting on grass, children drawing at a table
Four children walking, three girls in yellow, red, and yellow jackets, one girl with black hair and a yellow jacket is walking with her arm around another girl with black hair and a red jacket. The child closest to the camera, with black hair, appear
Decorative beige-colored rope or string with a wavy pattern.
Decorative beige-colored rope or string with a wavy pattern.

Praise

  • "Dynamic art in India ink, Japanese watercolor, pastel, and colored pencil centers the children’s shifting emotions, working seamlessly with the text to reveal even more, including the circumstance behind Jenny Mei’s feelings. A sensitive, gracefully wrought portrait of compassion."

    — Publishers Weekly, starred review

  • "Intelligently and sympathetically demonstrates that children have complex emotional lives too."

    — Kirkus, starred review

  • "Subisak’s illustrations, rendered in India ink, Japanese watercolor, pastel, and colored pencil, are bold in color yet delicate in detail. The text is simple yet thoughtful, painting our narrator as the empathetic friend she is."

    — Horn Book

  • "A child’s consciousness of impending loss hums beneath the surface of Tracy Subisak’s gentle picture book."

    — The Wall Street Journal

  • "Subisak sweetly shows, in word and art, how friends are supposed to stick together, even during the not-so-fun times."

    — Booklist

  • "A complex book with a beautiful, timely message.”

    — Book Riot

Hand-drawn white wavy lines on a tan background.
Hand-drawn white wavy lines on a tan background.
An educational flyer promoting reading programs for children, featuring a book cover titled "Jenny Mei Is Sad" by Tracy Subisak. The flyer includes information about Ohio's library initiatives, activities for early literacy, and the State Library of Ohio logo.

For Teachers & Readers

Jenny Mei Is Sad Toolkit for Educators

Use this toolkit to plan library programs as well as activities for family time, day care, or the classroom.

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Tracy Subisak standing outside on a grassy area, smiling, holding a children's book titled "Jenny Mei Is Sad," with trees, a lake, and a bridge in the background.

About Tracy

Tracy Subisak is the mixed-Taiwanese American author and illustrator of Sorry, Snail and award-winning Jenny Mei Is Sad. She has also illustrated many picture books including The Inactivity Book, written by Kyo Maclear and Amah Faraway, written by Margaret Chiu Greanias. Her books have been featured in publications such as the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal and PBS Books. Tracy currently resides in Portland, Oregon with her family and copious amounts of plants.

MORE ABOUT TRACY