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Download high-resolution image Look inside

Watercress

Author Andrea Wang On Tour
Illustrated by Jason Chin
Look inside
Hardcover
$18.99 US
Holiday House | Neal Porter Books
11.25"W x 9.03"H x 0.35"D  
On sale Mar 30, 2021 | 32 Pages | 978-0-8234-4624-7
| Preschool - 3
Add to cart Add to list Exam Copies
  • English Language Arts > Fiction > Home, Health, and Daily Living > Cooking & Food
  • English Language Arts > Fiction > People & Places by Group > Asian American
  • English Language Arts > Fiction > Social Themes > Emigration & Immigration
  • About
  • Author
  • Awards
  • Praise
Caldecott Medal Winner
Newbery Honor Book
APALA Award Winner
 
Gathering watercress by the side of the road brings a girl closer to her family's Chinese Heritage.
 
New England Book Award Winner
A New York Times Best Children’s Book of the Year
A Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book


Driving through Ohio in an old Pontiac, a young girl's parents stop suddenly when they spot watercress growing wild in a ditch by the side of the road. Grabbing an old paper bag and some rusty scissors, the whole family wades into the muck to collect as much of the muddy, snail covered watercress as they can.

At first, she's embarrassed. Why can't her family get food from the grocery store? But when her mother shares a story of her family's time in China, the girl learns to appreciate the fresh food they foraged. Together, they make a new memory of watercress.

Andrea Wang tells a moving autobiographical story of a child of immigrants discovering and connecting with her heritage, illustrated by award winning author and artist Jason Chin, working in an entirely new style, inspired by Chinese painting techniques. An author's note in the back shares Andrea's childhood experience with her parents.


Winner of the Cybils Award
An SCBWI Crystal Kite Award Winner
A Wall Street Journal Best Children's Book of the Year
A Boston Globe Best Children's Book of the Year
A Washington Post Best Children's Book of the Year
A New York Public Library Best Book of the Year
A Chicago Public Library Best Book of the Year
An ALSC Notable Children's Book
Named a best book of the year by Publishers Weekly, BookPage, School Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Lunch, Shelf Awareness, and more!
A CBC/NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Book
An NPR 'Book We Love!'
A Horn Book Fanfare Title
A Mighty Girl Best Book of the Year
A Floyd's Pick Honor Book
A CSMCL Best Multicultural Children's Book of the Year
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection!
A CCBC Choice
Andrea Wang is the award-winning author of The Nian Monster and Magic Ramen: The Story of Momofuku Ando. She was inspired to write Watercress by her experience growing up in rural Ohio as a child of Chinese immigrants. Andrea holds an M.S. in Environmental Science and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing for Young People. She lives in Colorado with her family.

Jason Chin is a celebrated author and illustrator of children's books. His book Grand Canyon was awarded a Caldecott Honor, a Sibert Honor, and the NCTE Orbis Pictus Award. He is the author and illustrator of Your Place in the Universe, which Kirkus called "A stimulating outing to the furthest reaches of our knowledge", as well as other acclaimed nonfiction titles--Coral Reefs, Redwoods, Gravity, and Island: A Story of the Galapagos-- which have received numerous starred reviews and other accolades. He is also the illustrator of Stephanie Parsley Ledyard's debut title Pie Is for Sharing and Miranda Paul's Water is Water and Nine Months: Before a Baby is Born, the latter, a Boston Horn Globe Honor Book. He lives in Vermont with his wife and children.
Andrea Wang View titles by Andrea Wang
Jason Chin View titles by Jason Chin
  • AWARD | 2022
    Caldecott Medal Winner
"Wang's multilayered, poetic text allows anger, guilt and grief to coexist with love and hope. Chin's captivating watercolor art, executed with a mix of Chinese and Western techniques, combines meticulous, gut-wrenching realism with dreamlike panoramas."—The New York Times

"Children often don’t understand why their parents act as they do; parents often forget to explain. Watercress reminds us of the importance of filling in those gaps."—The Wall Street Journal

"An understated, visually stunning exploration of memory and family history."—The Boston Globe

★ "An adept gem of a picture book"—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

★ "Understated, deep, and heart-rending—bring tissues."—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

★ "Simple text and beautiful illustrations pack a strong emotional punch . . . A powerful story sure to awaken empathy and ­curiosity"—School Library Journal, Starred Review

★ "this quietly affecting book encourages honesty, communication, and sharing of family history."—The Horn Book, Starred Review

★ "Watercress is a delicate and deeply felt exploration of memory, trauma and family."—BookPage, Starred Review

★ "It’s a deft exploration of the information and emotion gap between parents, especially immigrant parents, and children, and it may give space for kids to learn more about their own family history and customs . . ."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, Starred Review

★ "Through powerful poetry and exquisite illustrations, the daughter of immigrants relates an emotional childhood memory that opened the door to her Chinese roots."—Shelf Awareness, Starred Review

"The story reveals the chasms that can separate first-generation immigrant parents from their Americanized children and how confronting past traumas from another country and time can bring a family closer together. Chin’s illustrations masterfully bring to life the vast cornfields and colors of rural America." —Booklist

About

Caldecott Medal Winner
Newbery Honor Book
APALA Award Winner
 
Gathering watercress by the side of the road brings a girl closer to her family's Chinese Heritage.
 
New England Book Award Winner
A New York Times Best Children’s Book of the Year
A Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book


Driving through Ohio in an old Pontiac, a young girl's parents stop suddenly when they spot watercress growing wild in a ditch by the side of the road. Grabbing an old paper bag and some rusty scissors, the whole family wades into the muck to collect as much of the muddy, snail covered watercress as they can.

At first, she's embarrassed. Why can't her family get food from the grocery store? But when her mother shares a story of her family's time in China, the girl learns to appreciate the fresh food they foraged. Together, they make a new memory of watercress.

Andrea Wang tells a moving autobiographical story of a child of immigrants discovering and connecting with her heritage, illustrated by award winning author and artist Jason Chin, working in an entirely new style, inspired by Chinese painting techniques. An author's note in the back shares Andrea's childhood experience with her parents.


Winner of the Cybils Award
An SCBWI Crystal Kite Award Winner
A Wall Street Journal Best Children's Book of the Year
A Boston Globe Best Children's Book of the Year
A Washington Post Best Children's Book of the Year
A New York Public Library Best Book of the Year
A Chicago Public Library Best Book of the Year
An ALSC Notable Children's Book
Named a best book of the year by Publishers Weekly, BookPage, School Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Lunch, Shelf Awareness, and more!
A CBC/NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Book
An NPR 'Book We Love!'
A Horn Book Fanfare Title
A Mighty Girl Best Book of the Year
A Floyd's Pick Honor Book
A CSMCL Best Multicultural Children's Book of the Year
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection!
A CCBC Choice

Author

Andrea Wang is the award-winning author of The Nian Monster and Magic Ramen: The Story of Momofuku Ando. She was inspired to write Watercress by her experience growing up in rural Ohio as a child of Chinese immigrants. Andrea holds an M.S. in Environmental Science and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing for Young People. She lives in Colorado with her family.

Jason Chin is a celebrated author and illustrator of children's books. His book Grand Canyon was awarded a Caldecott Honor, a Sibert Honor, and the NCTE Orbis Pictus Award. He is the author and illustrator of Your Place in the Universe, which Kirkus called "A stimulating outing to the furthest reaches of our knowledge", as well as other acclaimed nonfiction titles--Coral Reefs, Redwoods, Gravity, and Island: A Story of the Galapagos-- which have received numerous starred reviews and other accolades. He is also the illustrator of Stephanie Parsley Ledyard's debut title Pie Is for Sharing and Miranda Paul's Water is Water and Nine Months: Before a Baby is Born, the latter, a Boston Horn Globe Honor Book. He lives in Vermont with his wife and children.
Andrea Wang View titles by Andrea Wang
Jason Chin View titles by Jason Chin

Awards

  • AWARD | 2022
    Caldecott Medal Winner

Praise

"Wang's multilayered, poetic text allows anger, guilt and grief to coexist with love and hope. Chin's captivating watercolor art, executed with a mix of Chinese and Western techniques, combines meticulous, gut-wrenching realism with dreamlike panoramas."—The New York Times

"Children often don’t understand why their parents act as they do; parents often forget to explain. Watercress reminds us of the importance of filling in those gaps."—The Wall Street Journal

"An understated, visually stunning exploration of memory and family history."—The Boston Globe

★ "An adept gem of a picture book"—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

★ "Understated, deep, and heart-rending—bring tissues."—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

★ "Simple text and beautiful illustrations pack a strong emotional punch . . . A powerful story sure to awaken empathy and ­curiosity"—School Library Journal, Starred Review

★ "this quietly affecting book encourages honesty, communication, and sharing of family history."—The Horn Book, Starred Review

★ "Watercress is a delicate and deeply felt exploration of memory, trauma and family."—BookPage, Starred Review

★ "It’s a deft exploration of the information and emotion gap between parents, especially immigrant parents, and children, and it may give space for kids to learn more about their own family history and customs . . ."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, Starred Review

★ "Through powerful poetry and exquisite illustrations, the daughter of immigrants relates an emotional childhood memory that opened the door to her Chinese roots."—Shelf Awareness, Starred Review

"The story reveals the chasms that can separate first-generation immigrant parents from their Americanized children and how confronting past traumas from another country and time can bring a family closer together. Chin’s illustrations masterfully bring to life the vast cornfields and colors of rural America." —Booklist

Other Books by this Author

  • The Universe in You
    The Universe in You
    A Microscopic Journey
    Jason Chin
    $18.99 US
    Hardcover
    Oct 18, 2022
  • Luli and the Language of Tea
    Luli and the Language of Tea
    Andrea Wang, Hyewon Yum
    $18.99 US
    Hardcover
    May 24, 2022
  • Nine Months
    Nine Months
    Before a Baby is Born
    Miranda Paul, Jason Chin
    $8.99 US
    Paperback
    May 04, 2021
  • Your Place in the Universe
    Your Place in the Universe
    Jason Chin
    $18.99 US
    Hardcover
    Sep 01, 2020
  • The Universe in You
    The Universe in You
    A Microscopic Journey
    Jason Chin
    $18.99 US
    Hardcover
    Oct 18, 2022
  • Luli and the Language of Tea
    Luli and the Language of Tea
    Andrea Wang, Hyewon Yum
    $18.99 US
    Hardcover
    May 24, 2022
  • Nine Months
    Nine Months
    Before a Baby is Born
    Miranda Paul, Jason Chin
    $8.99 US
    Paperback
    May 04, 2021
  • Your Place in the Universe
    Your Place in the Universe
    Jason Chin
    $18.99 US
    Hardcover
    Sep 01, 2020
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