Some things change. Some things stay the same.
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Illustrated by Jaime Kim Candlewick Press I April 12, 2022 * National Council for the Social Studies Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People * 2022 APALA Best of the Best Booklist * A Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Book of the Year 2023 * A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection * The Original Art 2022 Selection (The Society of Illustrators) - Jaime Kim |
★ ". . . The striking contrast between reality and anticipation both awes and disappoints the child. Yet while many things have changed, the river still flows through the city center. Hand in hand, Mommy and child wade in, re-creating the cherished moments of Mommy’s youth. The pair make their own memories in this special place, reinforcing that it is familial bonds and unconditional love that define home rather than physical surroundings. A tranquil warmth radiates from the illustrations, providing an underlying feeling of safety throughout the journey. Mommy and child are Korean, with black hair and pale skin. An uplifting, intergenerational story." Kirkus, Starred Review
★ "Lim poignantly explores the tension between new and old in this setting-oriented tribute to family bonds. Lim poignantly explores the tension between new and old in this setting-oriented tribute to family bonds. Using evocative first-person prose, the book opens with a child recounting stories about Mommy’s rural hometown (“The mountains nearby stood like giants”), but when the pair, who read as East Asian, travel for a visit, the landscape—now full of glimmering high-rises and stores covered with Korean signage—appears different than expected, perplexing the child: “Is this really the same place where Mommy grew up?” A playful wade in the river allows the two to re-create some of Mommy’s childhood experiences, and a welcome from Grandma further reassures that “Some things change, and some things stay the same.” Moving smoothly between rural and urban environments, Kim’s carefully illuminated digital graphics play dexterously with shadow, adding drama to the duo’s journey." Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
"A beautiful addition to any library shelf where the connection between generations is the discussion." School Library Journal
"This gentle, layered story will resonate with imaginative readers as it shares a message of optimism and beauty." Booklist
"In Mommy’s country she grew up with mountains and fun rivers. But when her son visits the land with her, he finds a city has taken over. Is there still outdoor fun to be had? It’s an interesting take on a child living through their parents’ memories in a way that I truly think is universal. My own parents would sometimes tell me stories of growing up, in such a way that I would imagine what it was like to be those places myself. I think that happens anywhere. This book gives it a little added extra kick with the urbanization of parts of South Korea. It’s actually a really good celebration of city living, which we don’t see quite as often. Definitely unique." Fuse 8 - 2022 Picture Books by Betsy Bird
You can find Teachers Guide here.
★ "Lim poignantly explores the tension between new and old in this setting-oriented tribute to family bonds. Lim poignantly explores the tension between new and old in this setting-oriented tribute to family bonds. Using evocative first-person prose, the book opens with a child recounting stories about Mommy’s rural hometown (“The mountains nearby stood like giants”), but when the pair, who read as East Asian, travel for a visit, the landscape—now full of glimmering high-rises and stores covered with Korean signage—appears different than expected, perplexing the child: “Is this really the same place where Mommy grew up?” A playful wade in the river allows the two to re-create some of Mommy’s childhood experiences, and a welcome from Grandma further reassures that “Some things change, and some things stay the same.” Moving smoothly between rural and urban environments, Kim’s carefully illuminated digital graphics play dexterously with shadow, adding drama to the duo’s journey." Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
"A beautiful addition to any library shelf where the connection between generations is the discussion." School Library Journal
"This gentle, layered story will resonate with imaginative readers as it shares a message of optimism and beauty." Booklist
"In Mommy’s country she grew up with mountains and fun rivers. But when her son visits the land with her, he finds a city has taken over. Is there still outdoor fun to be had? It’s an interesting take on a child living through their parents’ memories in a way that I truly think is universal. My own parents would sometimes tell me stories of growing up, in such a way that I would imagine what it was like to be those places myself. I think that happens anywhere. This book gives it a little added extra kick with the urbanization of parts of South Korea. It’s actually a really good celebration of city living, which we don’t see quite as often. Definitely unique." Fuse 8 - 2022 Picture Books by Betsy Bird
You can find Teachers Guide here.
- AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT Hope Lim / Anitra Rowe Schulte / April 4, 2022
- BOOK GIVEAWAY Mommy's Hometown by Hope Lim / Kathy Temean / March 29, 2022
- WATCH. CONNECT. READ Mommy's Hometown by Hope Lim and Jaime Kim / John Schu / March 14, 2022
- THE PICTURE BOOK BUZZ Interview with Hope Lim and Jaime Kim / Maria Marshall / March, 2022
- GROG BLOG Celebrating Mommy's Hometown with Hope Lim / Suzy Leopold / March 9, 2022
