Nhung Tran-Davies is a physician, author, mother of three and an advocate for social justice through education. Born in Vietnam, the youngest of six children, she was five when she and her family came to Canada in 1979 after spending eight months in a Malaysian refugee camp. Green Papayas is her fifth picture book. She lives in Calmar, Alberta.

Gillian Newland is a visual artist whose multimedia work appears in a number of publications, ranging from magazines, to book covers, to children’s picture books. She lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia.  

"Green Papayas is a sensitive and memorably thoughtful picture book story by Nhung Tan-Davies that is enriched and illustrated by the museum quality artwork of Gillian Newland. Green Papayas is especially and unreservedly recommended for family, elementary school, and community library collections for children ages 5-9."
— Midwest Book Review

"Nhung N Tran-Davies' Green Papayas is a story within a story. In this beautifully illustrated picture book, a child and their siblings visit their aging grandmother in the hospital. Despite her failing memory, Oma still spreads love and warmth. These scenes, along with their illustrations, are solemn yet tender-hearted. Even though Oma may not remember her grandchild's name, the intergenerational love that connects them shines through the pages.
   "In between these moments, we alternate between the present and the past as Mama tells the children a story, sharing memories of a strong, selfless matriarch who raised six children through poverty and war and later brought them halfway across the world - an homage captured through Gillian Newland's sincere illustrations, depictions of Oma's resilience. Mama establishes Oma's legacy in her stead, passing down her story to the younger generations so that she can remain with them even after she has gone, lingering in their memories.
   "The two sections, present and past, build off baselines or stanzas to create cohesion and simplicity throughout the book, which works great as a read-aloud. An important bedtime read about remembering the incredible stories of our elders."
— Canadian Children's BookNews

"Green Papayas is relevant for children of many diaspora communities, and offers parents and educators the opportunity to talk to young readers about their heritage and family history. The repetition in the prose reiterates the importance of keeping and remembering these stories. It's also a great entryway to discuss war and its impact on families with children."
— The Quill and Quire

Shortlisted for the 2024 TD Canadian Children's Literature Award