Jaime Kim

I both like and dislike this book.

On the one hand, it's a joyful celebration of summer, featuring a diverse cast. The story begins with a peaceful scene of a suburb, complete with kids biking and adults watering lawns in the background, with splashy johnny-jump-ups blazoned across the page.

The story continues exulting in the sights, sounds, and smells of summer. Kids play outside, ride their bikes, sell lemonade, participate in a Fourth of July parade, visit the ice cream truck, and finally show more head to the lake with their parents and go camping. The illustrations are colorful, splashy scenes of a family with two exuberant children, possibly biracial, exulting in the heat and fun of summer.

But....this isn't a summer I've ever seen. The small town parade, okay yes. But I live and work in several small towns and there are very rarely kids out biking, running lemonade stands, or just playing outside. They're all enrolled in swimming lessons, summer school, or at camp. The kids who are wandering loose around town certainly can't afford camping trips and don't have a cohesive, traditional family to go with anyways. I'm always suspicious of these carefully diverse suburban settings and this one seems like an idealistic vision of 1950s summer vacation with a more modern view of diversity.

But this is me looking at the book as an adult. Will kids recognize the dichotomy? Will they be interested in a view of summer that they've never personally experienced? Or is this just nostalgia for adults? It's hard to say. I know that a lot of adults will love this book, harkening back to what they remember as a more relaxed time in their lives and a more independent summer for kids. Some kids may enjoy it, recognizing the smells and feelings of summer, if not the specific activities. The illustrations are certainly attractive and convey a view of summer that I think a lot of small town and suburban Americans have in their minds.

Verdict: I don't know. Seasonal books are usually popular and I like the illustrations but I'm just doubtful about the appeal.

ISBN: 9780763660710; Published 2017 by Candlewick; Borrowed from another library in my consortium show less

Lovely and universal, and relevant to all ages. What makes a home? Can you find something to cherish when your memory doesn't match the new reality? The story addresses these and related questions elegantly and concisely.

It also has nothing to say about poverty, refugees, assimilation... which is a good thing. We have lots of wonderful picture-books about the challenges of 'the immigrant experience' but not enough that focus on simple & joyful experiences.

A little boy always heard about his Mommy’s hometown in Korea, and couldn’t wait to see it when they went to visit Grandma. But to the boy’s surprise, when he got there he did not see a cozy idyllic village but rather a busy metropolis. They can still wade in the river that runs through the city however, just like Mommy said she used to do. Fortunately, Grandma is as welcoming as ever: Mommy, smiling, said, “Some things change, and some things stay the same.”

Digital illustrations show more by Jaime Kim are full of warmth, adding to the good feeling of being with a loving family.

There are good messages in this simple story for age 3 and up that can be applied to a number of situations in all kids’ lives. show less

A New Adventure!

All his life, the little boy has heard his mother’s stories about the small village she grew up in. The children played in the river that had mountains on both sides.

But when they went to visit, it was now a great big city, with large buildings everywhere, not homes. The river now has cement sidewalks on each side, but there are steps that lead down to the water.

The mother takes her little boy down the stairs, and they both get in the water and play. Soon others join them, show more everyone laughing and having a good time. Even though the changes in the village made the little boy sad, the river is still the same way his mother described it, and it is lots of fun.

Children will enjoy hearing what it was like when the mother was a child, as well as, hearing about the changes that have taken place. They will really like hearing about being in the river. It is a great story that shows how things can still be fun, even if they are not what is expected. So, give things a chance that are different, they may even be better!

This five-star picture book will be enjoyed by ages three to seven-years-old.

Thank you, Candlewick Press, for providing Tickmenot with a book copy for the purpose of review. Opinions are my own. show less