Coming Soon: Hold Hands, Let’s Play! — Lae’l’s First Chinese–English Book

Little hands. Two languages. One sweet friendship.

Seven-year-old Lae’l Jegels is preparing to share his fourth book, Hold Hands, Let’s Play! / 拉拉手，一起玩, his first Chinese–English bilingual picture book with tone-marked pinyin.

A birthday gift that became a story

Created as a special birthday gift for his friend Guagua, the book celebrates the simple joy of spending time together. Through bubbles, a toddler slide and colourful blocks, Lae’l and Guagua discover kindness, sharing and friendship.

Made for little ones and their grown-ups

Written for toddlers aged 1–3 and shared reading with an adult, the story uses short Chinese and English sentences, with pinyin as a pronunciation guide. Its warm illustrations and familiar playtime moments give families plenty to talk about together.

A little behind the scenes

Lae’l has been practising his Chinese introduction for the book, giving us a cheerful glimpse into the preparations behind his latest author adventure. From reading his lines to sharing his excitement, each small step brings the project closer to its readers.

Coming soon

The final Chinese review and print preparations are still underway. Planned editions include eBook and Hardcover; the book is not yet available to purchase.

Written by Lae’l Jegels and published by GENS Publication, through The Grace Gallery. Follow along for the cover, story previews and release updates.