Synopsis
Driving through Ohio in an old Pontiac, a young girl's parents stop suddenly when they spot watercress growing wild in a ditch by the side of the road. Grabbing an old paper bag and some rusty scissors, the whole family wades into the muck to collect as much of the muddy, snail covered watercress as they can. At first, she's embarrassed. Why can't her family get food from the grocery store? But when her mother shares a story of her family's time in China, the girl learns to appreciate the fresh food they foraged. Together, they make a new memory of watercress.- ★★★★☆
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- Discuss your family’s history with your child—where did your parents, grandparents and great-grandparents live? Did they immigrate to a new country? What sacrifices did they make for you to be able to live your life the way it is today? How did they shape your history?
- Find China on a map. What was the great famine in China?
- What is it like for immigrants to establish themselves in a new country?
- Do you wear hand-me-down clothes? Did you think about where they come from?
- Reflect on the statement “…I am ashamed of being ashamed of my family.”
Mindful Muslim Review
The deep illustrations and simple story show children the importance of knowing their family history and heritage. Children should know the sacrifices and hardships their elders endured—to help establish a meaningful identity and sense of belonging. As the Author points out in the backmatter, teaching young children to have reverence for the past can also help them build compassion and empathy for their parents, their families, and for people around them.
Teaching Tools
Genres: General Fiction
Publisher: Neal Porter Books
*This review applies only to ISBN number noted above.
