Our Lake, Angie Kang
Our Lake, Angie Kang
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Our Lake
(A Caldecott Honor Book)

Author: Angie Kang

Narrator: Diwa Reyes

Unabridged: 6 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 05/05/2026

Categories: Children's Fiction


Synopsis

CALDECOTT HONOR BOOK • A tender and vulnerable exploration of love and loss that follows two boys as they take their first trip back to the lake without their father, from debut author Angie Kang.

Today, Brother is taking me up to swim in the lake like Father used to.

I want to thank him for bringing us here, but I can’t find the words.
Instead, I loop my arms around his torso, and he does the same back.

Here, in our lake, the water holds us close.

On a sweltering hot day, a little boy mirrors his brother as he takes off his shirt, stretches, and walks toward the edge of the tall rock, ready to dive into the cool lake waters glistening below. Only this time, Father is not here. And the water looks so far away. How can he take the plunge?

With a gorgeous, deft touch in her exquisitely soft words, Angie Kang conveys vulnerability, longing, and connection as these two boys hear Father’s laugh and see his memory all around them, uniting them in a bittersweet moment.

About The Author

Angie Kang is a Chinese American writer and illustrator living in LA. Her work has appeared in The New Yorker, Narrative, The Believer, and elsewhere, and has been generously supported by MacDowell and other organizations. Angie graduated from the Brown-RISD Dual Degree Program with a BFA in Illustration from the Rhode Island School of Design and a BA in Literary Arts from Brown University. She enjoys painting places she remembers and places she would like to go. Learn more about Angie’s writing and art at AngieKang.net or @anqiekanq on social media.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Mallory on March 04, 2025

Our Lake is a thoughtful depiction of loss and grief through the eyes of a child. Kang’s use of color and light is exquisite. The illustrations are magical and breathtaking. It is sentimental without being too sad for little ones. 10/10......more

Goodreads review by Rod on December 31, 2025

A downbeat vignette about a couple of young brothers working through grief at a favorite swimming spot. Not the kind of book you're going to enjoy if the plot catches you by surprise.......more

Goodreads review by Ann on June 24, 2025

I picked this up expecting a sweet story of 2 boys enjoying a lake they love. While that is a big part of the story, it is also a sentimental (but not too sad) story of a retreat to a place that their dad enjoyed with them before his death. Would be a good book to give to a child mourning the death......more

Goodreads review by DaNae on February 18, 2026

Nope, that’s not me sobbing in the corner you are mistaken. So lovely.......more

Goodreads review by Nancycampbell on June 26, 2025

Beautifully illustrated gentle story of two brothers returning to their beloved lake, after the loss of their father.......more


Quotes

Praise for Our Lake by Angie Kang; illustrated by Angie Kang:

A 2026 Randolph Caldecott Honor Book
A 2026 Charlotte Zolotow Award
The Society of Illustrators Original Art Show selection (The Dilys Evans Founder's Award)
An ALSC 2026 Notable Children’s Book (All Ages category)
A 2026 Comstock Read Aloud Book Award Honor Winner
A 2025 Chinese Children's Book Festival Golden Pinwheel People's Choice Award
A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: Publisher's Weekly, Evanston Public Library, School Library Journal, NPR, Kirkus, Children’s Book Review, Horn Book Fanfare, Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature (CSMCL)
A 2026 Golden Kite Award finalist (Picture Book Illustration category)
A Pedro and Daniel Intersectionality Book Awards (PADIBA) Longlist Book



“A deeply felt story about siblings returning to a cherished place…in loosely painted, expressive gouache, crayon, and colored pencil. Foregrounding the hard work of moving forward, this story about loss offers a vision of a place where “we are all together.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ “With lyrical descriptive language and breathtaking illustrations, this book tenderly explores themes of loss, bravery, and family. A gentle and heartfelt exploration of grief, this book is a must-have addition to any library shelf.” —School Library Journal, starred review

★“ Kang’s debut picture book is a quiet portrait of the ways in which grief takes us by surprise, and its glorious final celebratory splash offers a radiant reminder of how joy and connection can exist alongside sadness.” —The Horn Book, starred review

“A sensitive look at the delicate process of navigating loss. The gouache, crayon, and colored pencil illustrations convey a sense of calm and comfort while also acknowledging the anxiety of the unknown.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Lyrical…The text has a contemplative quality to it, never taking up more than three short lines at a time and allowing the viewer space to process every word…Vibrant eye-catching colors splash across every page.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

A heartfelt story of overcoming grief. Mixing gouache with the texture from crayons and colored pencils, Kang paints the sky a soft yellow with foliage in deep blues and greens. Combining these elements with the unlined art adds a softness to the delicate subject matter. A valuable addition for even the most robust collections.” —Booklist