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kayleeacton's review
5.0
Watercress is about a family who spots watercress growing in a ditch while driving down the road. They pull over and instruct their children to help pull the watercress to eat later. At the dinner table, the daughter does not want to eat it, which causes the mother to talk about her old Chinese family. This is never talked about, so with shame and guilt, she eats the watercress. I would offer this book as a group or independent book to be read by my students. There is an important message behind this book. Memories should be shared, even if they are painful.
rainbowbookworm's review
5.0
This book is a breathtaking, beautifully written ode to being a child of immigrants. It’s no wonder it con the Caldecott.
roseleaf24's review
5.0
So deserving of the Caldecott Award and the Newbery Honor. Though this is a story of a second generation immigrant, the experience of being embarrassed by your family is fairly universal. The illustrations do an excellent job of showing both the beauty of the experience of picking the watercress, and the emotion. This book will encourage children to think about the story of any immigrant they may know, but also their own families and how the past had led to the way their family behaves.
carolinemwatson's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
_mjmp_'s review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
4.0
notblue's review
5.0
Admittedly, I had read this book before. I picked it up randomly at the library and I read it and cried. I recently got this signed by the author and picked it up to reread.
5/5
5/5
carolineinthelibrary's review
5.0
A beautiful story about a girl who has to learn about her family's history to appreciate what they have now. While the family's specific story is unique, I could relate to the feelings our main character has when she's worried someone might see her picking watercress on the side of the road or her embarrassment at wearing hand-me-down clothes. The story perfectly captures what it's like to feel ashamed of those things and be reminded that we should be grateful for what we have.