Dial Books; 2000; Ages 5-8
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Halmoni’s Day by Edna Coe Bercaw, is a short and sweet picture book that tells the story of Jennifer, an all-American Korean girl raised by immigrant parents in the United States.
When Jennifer’s “Halmoni” (Korean for “grandmother”) visits from Korea, Jennifer is nervous about taking her to Grandparent’s Day at school because her grandmother doesn’t speak English. Once in front of the class, however, with Jennifer’s mother as translator, Halmoni recounts a story from her childhood of communicating with her own father after he lost his ability to speak. “Father’s expressive eyes were truly the windows to his heart and soul. Through them I could understand his thoughts and feel his courage and kindness.” Through Halmoni’s story Jennifer comes to realize that love and understanding can cross barriers of distance and language.
Although this is not an adoption book, the ideas of shared heritage and cultural pride will ring true for adoptive families. The only drawback to this book is that it might cause children adopted from Korea to long for their own Korean Halmoni! This is definitely a book that I will add to my children’s library.
Reviewed by Jan King, founder and director of International Adoption Alliance, Board member of the Korean American, Adoptee, Adoptive Family network and mom to two Korean-born children.
