Review by Booklist Review
Using the metaphor of the hardy dandelion's passage from seed to flower, the author traces her Cambodian family's journey from a winter refugee camp in Thailand to their new home in America. Digitally created art in rich tones and soft pastel hues combines with simple text to illustrate their voyage and arrival at an apartment in the city. "Like feathery seeds . . . they find a new home even in the tiniest space." At her new school, the young girl is shy at first, but like a flower, she raises her face to the sun and rain, and flowers into friendship with her schoolmates as the seasons advance. Her family's bravery and strength are mirrored in the small but mighty dandelion, happily planted in the soil. Back matter explains the value of the dandelion over the centuries and shows a photo of Lee and other children in the refugee camp. A testimony to one immigrant's positive outlook on America and the home she found.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2--Like Thao Lam's The Paper Boat, Lee's story begins with a childhood experience set against a threatening landscape from which her family fled: "Like feathery seeds, we take flight, finding a new home even in the tiniest of spaces." The scene right before a cozy, comforting city nightscape of lighted windows in apartment buidings is comprised of refugees and barbed wire, camouflage and barracks. A familiar story of an asylum-seeking family unfolds in idyllic scenes of a child's play with a dandelion. The child and mother move in, settle down, and in one scene are shown reading Lee's book In the Snow. From that reassurance in the backdrop comes some of the obstacles; the narrator, possibly Cambodian, is shy, but finds a little ginger-haired girl as a friend. By autumn, dandelion seeds are scattered in the wind and another girl, wearing a hijab, and her brother are the newcomers. An end note explains that the Cambodian refugee camp was in Thailand before the family emigrated to the United States in 1975. The simplicity of Lee's melodic telling belies the serious and complex events before she arrived in the United States, and treats childhood and friendships as natural acts, arising from good soil and tending. It's as hopeful as her dedication, to the country that welcomed her, and leaves to readers an expectation that they must rise to. VERDICT In digital illustrations that have the grace of watercolors, this story starts with displacement and ends with deep-rooted belonging, for every collection, and every child.--Kimberly Olson Fakih, School Library Journal
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
A young immigrant girl and her mother adjust to life in a new city in this hopeful picture book about resilience. The story follows the little girl over the course of a year as she grows more confident, makes friends, and ultimately thrives. She compares herself to a dandelion: "Like feathery seeds," she and her mother "take flight," leaving their homeland by plane. We aren't told why, but art on the dedication page shows the two boarding a military-looking bus. Lee's digitally rendered illustrations look like collage and have a tactile quality. Initially dark and oppressive when the family arrives in the city, the art lightens as the girl begins to acclimate to her surroundings: "We put down roots / in unfamiliar soil." As winter turns to spring, she blossoms; by book's end, she's strong enough to help welcome other newcomers. "Like a dandelion, I am strong and giving, planted happily in soil that I now call home." A photo of Lee and her siblings taken in a Cambodian refugee camp in the 1970s accompanies an author's note with some dandelion lore, and Lee dedicates the book in part to "my parents and siblings, with whom I shared this journey." (c) Copyright 2023. 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
An ode to the courage and resilience exhibited by refugee immigrants, inspired by the author's own experiences. The journey of a child and their caregiver making a new home in an unfamiliar country is explored in poetic form using a powerful simile. Readers meet the small family as they arrive in winter and fortify themselves with comforting reminders and traditions from their home. Come spring, a new beginning unfolds, ripe with possibilities for connection that become fully realized in summer. In autumn, the journey comes full circle as the child welcomes new faces with kindness. The narrative is conveyed in brief yet lyrical lines, every word resonating with purpose and meaning. The comparison of a blooming dandelion with the immigrant experience beautifully illustrates the strength, versatility, and ability to thrive in harsh conditions each exemplifies. The bright, bold use of color vividly evokes the seasons and accompanying emotions felt by the young child. The summer double-page spread bursts with joyous yellows, greens, and blues that shine with contentment and community. Throughout, the images, textures, and patterns create richly vibrant scenes that complement the simplicity of the text. The child and caregiver are cued as Cambodian, with light beige skin and black hair. Secondary characters are depicted in a diverse mix of skin tones and hair colors. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at 23.2% of actual size.) An uplifting and heartfelt reflection that embodies the unwavering spirit of refugee immigrants. (author's note, photo) (Picture book. 5-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
