  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 04/01/2022 K-Gr 2—A young boy listens as his mother tells him about her hometown when she was growing up: "She said an old river weaved through her village like a long thread. It sparkled in the morning and shimmered at dusk." The young boy is excited to finally get to travel by train to see this wonderful place that he's only heard about. Upon arrival, he's surprised to see that the village is now a giant city with tall skyscrapers and people bustling everywhere. His mother tells him that things have changed over the years, but that some things have stayed the same. The pair finds the family house standing on the corner with they boy's grandma excitedly waiting for them. As they venture around the city, they come to the river and decide to wade in, just like the mother did as a young girl. Cherubic characters are adorably set in full-color backgrounds on the majority of the pages. Illustrations are digital and all characters are Asian. This picture book lends itself nicely to compare and contrast, then and now, as well as talking about what happens to the landscape when concrete and buildings take over. VERDICT A beautiful addition to any library shelf where the connection between generations is the discussion.—Tracy Cronce - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 03/15/2022 As part of their nighttime routine, Mommy tells her youngster about the place where she spent her childhood. She describes a peaceful village with a gleaming, meandering river where she and her friends would fish and play. Readers are treated to sumptuous full-page spreads devoid of text, where they can linger and imagine, like the child does, dreaming of a carefree life in a beautiful place. The child is surprised when the pair visit Mommy’s hometown and find it changed. The place is not named, but details in the illustrations suggest it is in Korea. In place of the rustic beauty are gleaming high-rises and other trappings of urbanity, all of which have risen around Mommy’s old home, where grandmother still lives. Despite their initial disappointment, mother and child find joy as they explore the town. The river is still there, and it provides as much beauty and pleasure as ever before. Also constant are the bonds between people. This gentle, layered story will resonate with imaginative readers as it shares a message of optimism and beauty. - Copyright 2022 Booklist. Loading...
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