Finds tongues in trees, books in running brooks,
Sermons in stones, and good in everything.
— William Shakespeare
If you’re related to or friends with someone who immigrated (moved to your country) or emigrated (left your country), you’ll love this powerful and resonate picture book about a Vietnamese immigrant. Despite working two jobs, he wakes his son long before dawn. They fish for the family’s food. The dark sky has “faint stars like freckles.”
In describing one day, A Different Pond, written by Bad Phi and illustrated by Thi Bui, sheds light on the difficulties faced by immigrants. It reveals how connected new immigrants feel to the family they left. Most of all, with humor, compassion and warmth, it celebrates the new life they build in their chosen country, where their children now belong.
Notes: I descend from immigrants, as most Americans do, if you go back far enough. This gives me insight into the emotional cost my ancestors paid. I also happen to have friends whose children are emigrating. Very smart teens are fleeing our high college costs and emigrating to Europe. Will my own children do the same? A sad thought.
10 thoughts on “A Book by the Brook — A Different Pond”
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Friendly Fairy Tales 
Sounds like an emotional book. We all came from somewhere, so I’m sure it would be an interesting read to any of us!
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I thought so, too. I really like how picture books make us feel.
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This is a Caldecott winning title and along with the story, the illustrations are tenderly rendered! So moving.
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It is glorious. I’m glad you like it, too.
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Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
THE THOUGHT OF REVERSE IMMIGRATION…WHAT A THOUGHT! A VERY THOUGHTFUL AND RICHLY ILLUSTRATED REVIEW, BRENDA!
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As an emigrant myself, I know the double-edged sword of joy and pain.
A new country and a new life, but the heart still misses those left behind, and, always, the motherland.
Beautiful words by Will.
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It’s amazing what truths can be found in picture books, boiled down to the very essence.
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i look forward to reading it. always learn so much when hearing another’s perspective and experience
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It’s a lovely book. It’s good to think about someone else.
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Reblogged this on The Militant Negro™.
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