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Watercress

Watercress

Gathering watercress by the side of the road brings a girl closer to her family’s Chinese Heritage
Product Code: 8476
ISBN: 9780823446247
Format: Hardback
Publisher: Neal Porter Books
Published Date: 03/30/2021
Pages: 32
Availability:In stock
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Price: $18.99
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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.

Andrea Wang tells a moving autobiographical story of a child of immigrants discovering and connecting with her heritage, illustrated by award winning author and artist Jason Chin, working in an entirely new style, inspired by Chinese painting techniques. An author’s note in the back shares Andrea’s childhood experience with her parents.

Ages 4 to 8


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An adept gem of a picture book, encompassing both universal intergenerational embarrassment and a specific diasporic shift in cultural perception.” - Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“Wang’s moving poetry paired with - and precisely laid out on - Chin’s masterfully detailed illustrations capture both an authentic Midwestern American landscape and a very Chinese American family, together infusing a single event with multiple layers laden with emotion, memory, and significance. Understated, deep, and heart-rending - bring tissues.” - Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

“Simple text and beautiful illustrations pack a strong emotional punch in this picture book. . . . A powerful story sure to awaken empathy and ­curiosity” - School Library Journal, Starred Review

“It’s a deft exploration of the information and emotion gap between parents, especially immigrant parents, and children, and it may give space for kids to learn more about their own family history and customs . . .” - The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, Starred Review

“Transcending space and time, memories bring a Chinese American family together. . . . this quietly affecting book encourages honesty, communication, and sharing of family history.” - The Horn Book, Starred Review
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Review and Rate this Item

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.

Andrea Wang tells a moving autobiographical story of a child of immigrants discovering and connecting with her heritage, illustrated by award winning author and artist Jason Chin, working in an entirely new style, inspired by Chinese painting techniques. An author’s note in the back shares Andrea’s childhood experience with her parents.

Ages 4 to 8


Bookmark and Share

An adept gem of a picture book, encompassing both universal intergenerational embarrassment and a specific diasporic shift in cultural perception.” - Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“Wang’s moving poetry paired with - and precisely laid out on - Chin’s masterfully detailed illustrations capture both an authentic Midwestern American landscape and a very Chinese American family, together infusing a single event with multiple layers laden with emotion, memory, and significance. Understated, deep, and heart-rending - bring tissues.” - Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

“Simple text and beautiful illustrations pack a strong emotional punch in this picture book. . . . A powerful story sure to awaken empathy and ­curiosity” - School Library Journal, Starred Review

“It’s a deft exploration of the information and emotion gap between parents, especially immigrant parents, and children, and it may give space for kids to learn more about their own family history and customs . . .” - The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, Starred Review

“Transcending space and time, memories bring a Chinese American family together. . . . this quietly affecting book encourages honesty, communication, and sharing of family history.” - The Horn Book, Starred Review
Be the first to submit a review on this product!
Review and Rate this Item

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