Picture Book - Watercress by Andrea Wang

Illustrated by Jason Chin

Endpapers:  Dark Aqua
found at Bosler

2021 Neal Porter Books, Holiday House

32 pgs.

Goodreads rating:   4.61 - 1131 ratings

My rating:  4.5

1^st line/s:  "We are all in the old Pontiac, the red paint faded by years of glinting Ohio sun, pelting rain, and biting snow."

My comments:  Being a child of immigrants, and poor, the little girl protagonist of this story  doesn't want to stop by the side of the road to forage in the muck for watercress that remind her parents of their growing up in China.  And later she doesn't want to eat it.  But in a simple though perfectly worded story, Andrea Wang, shows the little girl a huge amount of history, memories, and sorrow from the mom's life in China.  A gentle story with a whopping take-away.

Goodreads:  Gathering watercress by the side of the road brings a girl closer to her family's Chinese Heritage.

          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.

PICTURE BOOK - Dreamers by Yuyi Morales

Illustrated by the author

2018, Neal Porter Books, Holiday House, New York

HC $18.99

32 pgs.

Goodreads rating:  4.66 - 1130 ratings

My rating: 5

Endpapers: interesting....brown wall ?

Illustrations are gorgeous!  This is what she says:  "I painted with acrylics and drew on paper with ink and brushes and a nib-pen that once belonged to Maurice Sendak, given to me by Lynn Caponera.  
To give the book life, I photographed and scanned many things, including the floor of my studio; the comal where I grill my quesadillas; my childhood drawings kept by my mother; a chair; a brick from my house; old walls from the streets of Malinaleo;my hometown of Xalapa, and my house; a metal sheet; traditional Mexican fabrics; crepe, craft, and amate paper; leaves and plants from my garden; an old woven blouse; hand-painted pants I made for my son, Kelly; old wood; water in a bucket; jute twine; a trditional wool skirt from /'Chiapas; Kelly's childhood drawings; my first handmade book; embroidery; and more."

1^st line/s:"I dreamed of you, then you appeared.  Together we became Amor - Love - Amor.  Resplendent life, you and I."

My comments:  Oo la la.  The book is simple, gorgeous, and meaningful, especially in this day of controversies surrounding immigration and immigrants themselves.  Her two-page explanation at the end is wonderful.  This is truly a special book.

Goodreads:  Caldecott Honor artist and five-time Pura Belpré Award winner Yuyi Morales tells her own immigration story in this picture-book tribute to the transformative power of hope . . . and reading. An instant New York Times bestseller!
          In 1994, Yuyi Morales left her home in Xalapa, Mexico and came to the US with her infant son. She left behind nearly everything she owned, but she didn't come empty-handed.
          She brought her strength, her work, her passion, her hopes and dreams...and her stories. Caldecott Honor artist and five-time Pura Belpré winner Yuyi Morales's gorgeous new picture book Dreamers is about making a home in a new place. Yuyi and her son Kelly's passage was not easy, and Yuyi spoke no English whatsoever at the time. But together, they found an unexpected, unbelievable place: the public library. There, book by book, they untangled the language of this strange new land, and learned to make their home within it.
          Dreamers is a celebration of what migrants bring with them when they leave their homes. It's a story about family. And it's a story to remind us that we are all dreamers, bringing our own gifts wherever we roam. Beautiful and powerful at any time but given particular urgency as the status of our own Dreamersbecomes uncertain, this is a story that is both topical and timeless.
          The lyrical text is complemented by sumptuously detailed illustrations, rich in symbolism. Also included are a brief autobiographical essay about Yuyi's own experience, a list of books that inspired her (and still do), and a description of the beautiful images, textures, and mementos she used to create this book.
          A parallel Spanish-language edition, Soñadores, is also available

77. Front Desk by Kelly Yang

read on my iPhone - eBook borrowed from Library
2018, Scholastic
286 pgs.
Middle Grades CRF
Finished 8/10/18
Goodreads rating:  4.29 - 1249 ratings
My rating:  4.5
Setting: Contemporary Anaheim, California

First line/s:  "My parents told me that America would be this amazing place where we could live in a house with a dog, do whatever we want, and eat hamburgers till we were red in the face."

My comments:  This is a beautifully written story about a feisty, smart, exceptional 10-year-old that is actually based on the author's true story.  It's about the immigrant experience in southern California.  And although it's about Chinese immigrants, it could be about any immigrant from any country; it puts yourself in their shoes.  I must admit I was upset and pissed through most of the book.  Language barriers, poverty, and of course prejudice are almost insurmountable - but young Mia figures ways around and through obstacles with a never-give-up-attitude that is incredibly believable.  This is a touching, warmhearted story about love and friendship and not giving up.  A winner!

Goodreads synopsis:  Front Desk tells the story of 10-year-old Mia Tang. Every day, Mia manages the front desk of the Calivista Motel while her parents clean the rooms. She’s proud of her job. She loves the guests and treats them like family. When one of the guests gets into trouble with the police, it shakes Mia to her core. Her parents, meanwhile, hide immigrants in the empty rooms at night. If the mean motel owner Mr. Yao finds out, they’ll be doomed!
          Based on the author's life, the story follows Mia — the daughter of first generation Chinese immigrants. 

PICTURE BOOK - Dangerous Jane by Suzanne Slade

Illustrated byAlice Ratterree

2017, Peachtree

HC $17.95
40 pgs.

Goodreads rating:  4.19 - 172 ratings

My rating: 4.5  (just a tiny bit too simplistic...)

Endpapers: Beige

1^st line/s:  "Jane was born beside a sparkling creek on an Illinois prairie in a friendly town called Cedarville."

My comments:  Beautifully illustrated and simply told, the story of Jane Addams is intriguing and informative.  Although she was the first American woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, she was named by the FBI as "the Most Dangerous Woman in America" just 12 years prior!  Why?  For being a woman, and caring about people and peace - people and peace beyond American borders..  I sure want to read more about her now!

Goodreads:  Jane's heart ached for the world, but what could she do to stop a war? This energetic and inspiring picture book biography of activist Jane Addams focuses on the peace work that won her the Nobel Peace Prize. From the time she was a child, Jane's heart ached for others. At first the focus of her efforts was on poverty, and lead to the creation of Hull House, the settlement house she built in Chicago. For twenty-five years, shed helped people from different countries live in peace at Hull House. But when war broke out, Jane decided to take on the world and become a dangerous woman for the sake of peace. Suzanne Slade's powerful text written in free verse illuminates the life of this inspiring figure while Alice Ratterree's stunning illustrations bring Jane Addams and her world to life.