Review of Be Careful, Xiao Xin! by Alice Pung

Authors

Merry Moon Hkawn, Cedarville UniversityFollow

Publisher

Crown Books for Young Readers

City

New York, New York, United States of America

Date of Publication

2024

ISBN

9780593812914

Date of Review

2025

Disciplines

Library and Information Science | Modern Literature

Keywords

Children's literature, reviews, bilingual, manners

Review

The heartfelt picture book Be Careful, Xiao Xin! by Alice Pung and drawn by Sher Rill Ng tells the story of a kid whose family continuously warns him with the phrase “Xiao Xin,” meaning both “be careful” and “little heart." Xiao Xin dreams of being a fearless Red Fire Warrior, powerful enough to face the world, despite his family's desire to protect him. Both tenderness of familial affection and the child's annoyance at being restricted are portrayed by the bilingual text (in Mandarin and English) and vibrant, lively pictures. Because the narrative focuses more on feelings than on a clear plot, some readers might find it less straightforward compared to more traditional picture books. Many families, particularly those balancing generational gaps, can relate to this narrative because of its themes of independence, protection, and cultural expectations. Optional Merry Moon Hkawn, Centennial Library Intern, Cedarville University

Recommended Citation

Hkawn, Merry Moon, "Review of Be Careful, Xiao Xin! by Alice Pung" (2025). Library Intern Book Reviews. 445.
https://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/intern_book_reviews/445

Files

Author Type

Students