My Grandmom by Gee-eun Lee, translated by Sophie Bowman

It's interesting to see how books in translation translate to my small-town audience. This one, I think, will definitely strike a chord with kids.

With naive, child-like drawings and short, simple sentences, Gee-eun Lee tells the story of her adventures with her Grandmom, or Halmoni, as a child. The story starts with Halmoni trying to calm a screaming Gee-eun as their parents leave, then settling down to make kalguksu, which involves rolling out dough. Naturally, they also make images of their cat and family too. The reader looks on as the conversations between the two continue, talking about what they are doing, family stories, and getting ready for a big day at school.

Gee-eun is upset that she won't have her family with her at Family Sports Day, but is comforted by Halmoni's declaration that she will be there! When she was young, they called her the Ox! She is fast and strong and of course, awesome at dancing. But when they arrive at Family Sports Day, it turns out that Halmoni has overestimated her strength and speed and they lose, badly. Luckily, a few curry buns are very comforting and Gee-eun perks up and chatters happily on the way home, ready for dinner made by Halmoni when her parents finally arrive.

This is a comforting and familiar story to the many kids whose grandparents provide childcare. Lee has an authentic child's voice, taking the young Gee-eun's disappointments seriously, but adding in amusing jokes and interactions with a loving Halmoni. The cadences of the story are different, with a flavor of a folktale, "And when it comes to dancing-well, that goes without saying. I just do my thing like this and like that." The elements of the story that might be unfamiliar to US kids, like the food, are explained by the illustrations and context of the story.

This story will take a little practice to read aloud and will probably make the most sense to kids if you use different voices for the dialogue, as it's presented somewhat differently than in a US title. It would also make a great opportunity for a storytime about grandparents or families in general and could be extended for kids to talk/draw about their own experiences, favorite foods, and how they handled it when something went wrong. The longer text and layout of the story are best for a school-age audience as toddlers and preschoolers won't grasp the concept from the story.

Verdict: If you are looking for more diverse family books, especially those picturing grandparents, this is a fun and sweet title to add.

ISBN: 9781662508257; Published November 2022 by Amazon Crossing Kids; Review copy provided by publisher