Review by Booklist Review
A little boy is taken "across the ocean" to visit his grandpa in Korea, where everything is unfamiliar. Left alone together, the two appear to have no connection. The boy finds his grandpa's house boring, so he starts kicking a ball around to entertain himself, which leads to an accident when a flowerpot breaks. This seems to spark an awareness in Grandpa that he needs to interact with his grandson. They both make an effort, and as things improve, it turns out that the two have lots of things in common after all. Yum's (Lion Needs a Haircut, 2020) cheerful colored-pencil illustrations mirror the text, with facial expressions adding a layer of emotion as the relationship builds toward a happy conclusion. This is a simple story with an important message that young readers and their caregivers will appreciate: take a little time, make a little effort, and all will be well.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
A Korean American child with short black hair and dot eyes struggles to adjust to South Korea when visiting Grandpa, a bespectacled elderly man. Different customs ("When I say 'Hi,'/ Grandpa bows"), language barriers ("I can't quite understand what he says,/ and he can't hear me well"), and unfamiliar food ("Grandpa eats things I don't want to eat") unmoor the child, but an accident soon sets the duo on a path toward understanding ("But with Grandpa, I don't need to say the word for what I want most./ He already knows"). Charming colored-pencil illustrations are punctuated with a few basic Korean words as the narrator and Grandpa embark on market and beach excursions, and grow closer. Told in a pitch-perfect kid voice with a satisfying narrative arc, Yum's sweetly comedic picture book will resonate with any reader who has experienced diasporic--or generational--tension with an older relative. Ages 4--8. (Apr.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1--For all children everywhere, the unfamiliar is hard. When the young narrator of this sweet picture book first gets to South Korea, or the "other side of the ocean," everything seems strange to him, including his grandfather. They can't understand each other's language and the house is "the most boring place on earth," until the young boy accidentally knocks over one of his grandfather's beloved potted orchids. Afraid of getting in trouble, the boy cowers, only to find that the old gentleman is ready to comfort him with peaches and a toy car. From then on, the two are inseparable. They enjoy walks in town, ice cream cones, and trips to the beach. By the end of the story, "Now where Grandpas lives, it smells familiar. It sounds familiar. And it feels like home." Young readers will be comforted and entertained by the evolution of the relationship between the boy and his grandfather, as he goes from a stranger to "a troublemaker. Just like me." Yum's witty, brief text perfectly and humorously complements her simple but expressive illustrations. The circumstances will resonate for children who have family far away. VERDICT. A great choice for picture book collections, this will be treasured by families preparing their young ones for a visit with relatives.--Kristy Pasquariello, Westwood P.L., MA
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Review by Horn Book Review
A young Korean American boy travels across the ocean to visit his grandfather in South Korea. Everything is strange there. "It smells strange. It sounds strange." Grandpa speaks an unfamiliar language and eats food that the child doesn't want to eat. The boy is not happy. "Grandpa's house is the most boring place on earth!" But some time spent together proves him wrong. Grandpa laughs when watching cartoons and loves chocolate ice cream. He's a great singer, and also a troublemaker -- just like his grandson! Now, everything is familiar. The child can understand Grandpa's language and eat Grandpa's food. And he can't wait to be back next summer. In this sweet and funny story, Yum (Saturday Is Swimming Day, rev. 7/18; I Am a Bird, rev. 1/21) explores the grandparent-grandchild relationship and shows how barriers of language, culture, distance, and age are overcome through the creation of shared memories and finding commonality. The straightforward text is easily accessible, and the colored-pencil illustrations are bright and vibrant. Faithful representations of street scenes and food culture in South Korea invite readers from the same background to connect personally with the visual narrative while allowing others to experience something new. The front and back endpapers also include a wealth of detail and provide a visual summary of the story. Weileen Wang July/August 2021 p.100(c) Copyright 2021. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A summer spent in Korea with Grandpa provides growth for a little Korean American child. A little black-haired Asian child wheels a blue suitcase through the city, craning to take in the new sights and sounds of a foreign land. This is where Grandpa lives. "It smells strange. It sounds strange." With a sad face, the child tries to adjust to this new place, giving a firsthand account of trials suffered. When an accident caused by frustration and boredom surprises both grandfather and grandchild, there is a reckoning of sorts. Guilty feelings on both sides lead to new behaviors. This kid is possibly the same child from Yum's previous title Puddle (2016), and the theme of overcoming cranky behavior repeats as well. With the same warmhearted care, the child is helped through the adjustment of having a relationship with a loving relative who lives across the ocean. Illustrated with colored pencil, the scenes are light and filled with patience and love. The grandfather is frequently shown at the same eye level as the child, highlighting the importance of physical connection. An effort is made to translate simple Korean words to English, and many will recognize the awkward feeling of understanding a different culture. Hopefully, readers will appreciate the importance of an affectionate relationship between grandparent and grandchild. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-18-inch double-page spreads viewed at 29.8% of actual size.) A reminder that love and attention can bolster relationships separated by time and distance. (Picture book. 3-8.) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
