Summary
This beautiful book explores a family’s origins as a young boy hears his mothers’ stories of her childhood in Korea. Though, when they visit Korea, the young boy is surprised to see that his mother’s home has changed. There are no more dirt roads and visible mountains. Skyscrapers, cars, and busy streets have replaced the treasures he heard so much about. The boy begins to reflect and appreciate the old and new memories of the town. This book celebrates cherishing the past and embracing the new.
Theme(s):
Family, Culture, Heritage
Personal Response
I truly enjoyed reading this text, as it made me reflect on my home of Guyana and how much the country and the village I grew up in have changed since I have a little girl. As I read the book I thought about how many families often share their origin stories with their young children, bringing them closer. This text gave me hope for wanting to one day do the same with my own family, sharing stories of things I used to see, games I used to place, and just how much my home meant to me.
Teaching Ideas
I would connect this text to a family origin or family tree activity, where my students can go home and ask their moms, dads, or grandparents about their upbringing. I would have them create a visual or written piece to depict what was shared with them and have them share in a community meeting activity. The purpose of this is to integrate an art or written component for scholars and get them engaged and eager to learn about their backgrounds.
Recommended Reading Level
Birth-PreK, Grade 01, Grade 02
