Summary
A young Chinese girl is ashamed of her family. While driving home, her parents make her stop on the side of the road to pick slimy, wild, watercress. The young girl is embarrassed and cannot understand why her family must act like this. After all, they can get vegetables at the grocery store! Her mother notices the young girls behavior and shares a story of her family and their life in China. The story and its memories spark a sense of gratitude in the girl who changes her way of thinking.
Theme(s):
Family, Memory, Appreciation
Personal Response
I enjoyed reading this book. I felt it was quite simple but told a powerful story. It emphasized the importance of sharing family history and embracing our culture. The story demonstrated the young girls need to feel what she thought was “normal” and how her family was not allowing her to accomplish this. I think the story made the point that everyone should embrace where they come from and everything that comes with their background.
Teaching Ideas
This book would be an excellent start to a lesson on memories. In the book, the mother associates watercress with memories of her family from China. Students could use this as inspiration to think of memories they associate with different things such as food, a scent or even an article of clothing. They can share these memories with their peers. Emphasis can be put on the idea that everyone appreciates things for different reasons and it is important to respect those reasons.
Recommended Reading Level
Birth-PreK, Grade 01, Grade 02, Grade 03
