Review 5 - Watercress

   Wang, Andrea and illustrated by Chin, Jason. Watercress. Random House Children's Book, 2021. 3 to 7 years.


Watercress ties the story of a young girl who feels ashamed of her family's activities with the history of her Chinese immigrant parents to the Watercress plant in Ohio. After being made to pick Watercress for dinner off the side of the road like her parents did in China, our protagonist learns more about her family history and gains a new appreciation for food. The themes of communication, shame, acceptance, and cultural traditions make this a perfect read for anyone looking to learn about other cultures or who might relate to feeling like an outsider. The illustrations are done on two-page spreads and in watercolor. The pictures speak for themselves and help readers further connect to the mother's story. A beautiful multigenerational story that teaches young readers about sympathizing with others while encouraging them to be proud of their culture would be a great read out loud to start the conversation of family history and sharing of traditional cultural foods.

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