BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
The girl’s family is on the road somewhere near their adopted town in Ohio when her parents spy watercress growing on the side of the road in a ditch. The family piles out, wading through the dirty ditch; the girl hopes that no one she knows will see them. At dinner that night she refuses to eat the watercress, even if it is now snail-less. Then her mother brings out a photo of her family and explains why the watercress is important.
What a lovely story and it is accompanied by Chin’s lustrous illustrations. Like watercress, the story is spicy, delicate and bitter. The author’s note and illustrator’s note are well worth reading - especially if you are sharing it with a group or class. Lots to unpack. I will also be adding this to my middle school collection for books about immigration and life around the world.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
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