Halmoni and the Picnic

Rating:
Summary: Touching
Review: Perhaps the best aspect of this book is the obvious love between Yunmi and her Halmoni (grandmother). When Halmoni makes kimbap (a labor-intensive traditional Korean food), it is a labor of love for the Korean-American granddaughter she does not always understand. When Yunmi calls hello to her teacher on the street, Halmoni worries that her granddaughter is showing disrespect. In Halmoni's time and culture, a little girl should not attract a teacher's attention. In Yunmi's society, such a greeting is not only respectful but friendly. Although Halmoni's sadness is resolved a little too easily (is it realistic that small school-children would happily eat seaweed?), the children's innocent acceptance and validation of Halmoni is a beautiful example to other Korean-American families struggling to fit into predominantly Caucasian America. A little girl learns to be proud of her grandmother and heritage.

Rating:
Summary: This is a great children's book!
Review: The text and illustrations are good, I think books such as these are hard to come by. Rarely is there a book which deals with generation/culture gaps as well as My Halmoni and the Picnic. It was sensitive, touching and very rewarding to read. Whether one is Korean or not, the book weaves the importance of the relationship we as people should have with our grandmothers (or grandfathers) and how much we can learn from the wisdom and experience.