Halmoni's Day

Children's Literature

A Korean grandmother visits her American granddaughter, Jennifer, just before Grandparents Day, when all grandparents will receive awards in her class. Jennifer is worried that the Korean-speaking Halmoni will not fit in with the other modern grandparents of her classmates. She is also worried about not being able to communicate with her grandmother. Although Halmoni does not speak English and dresses in silk gowns, she develops a special relationship with Jennifer through gestures, facial expressions and translations by Jennifer's mother. The poignant text is given luster through full-page pictures painted with oil on paper. This touching story will resonate with many readers in this country of immigrants. 2000, Dial Books for Young Readers/Penguin Putnam, $15.99. Ages 4 to 9. Reviewer: Jeanne K. Pettenati

School Library Journal

Gr 1-3-Jennifer's halmoni (grandmother) arrives from South Korea the day before Grandparents' Day at school. She speaks no English and wears traditional Korean garb, and Jennifer wonders what her classmates will think of her. The softly colored illustrations in oils show a woman so attractive in her silk gown, so quietly confident with her Americanized family, that readers are prepared for the outcome: Halmoni is welcomed and accepted. When each of the grandparents is given a special award, she receives one for "the grandparent who traveled the farthest to get here today." And when she tells the children a story from her own childhood (which her daughter translates), Jennifer glows with obvious pride and love. The illustrations lift this pleasantly predictable story to a more universal level. Though Halmoni is Korean, the message that all grandparents, regardless of their cultural origins, feel much the same about their grandchildren is clear. The characters are depicted in a realistic but soft-edged manner that is both affectionate and understated. While Sook Nyul Choi's books detail the specific differences between Korean and American food, customs, and clothing in a way that shows these differences to be interesting and positive, Bercaw concentrates on emphasizing the similarities among people of all cultures.-Marian Drabkin, Richmond Public Library, CA Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

Newcomer Bercaw has written an affecting story of Jennifer's fears and joys when her Korean halmoni, or grandmother, flies from her peaceful village to take part in a school Grandparents' Day program. Hunt's (Jacob's Gift, not reviewed) wonderfully sensitive oils are a perfect accompaniment in soft pastels that almost appear to be seen through gauze. Halmoni has flown 14 hours of time zones to get there; in Hunt's painting, her face and posture show her weariness as well as the joy she feels at its end. Jennifer is torn—so glad to meet her that she leans forward to rest her cheek on Halmoni's as Dad drives them home from the airport—but fearful of her differences. Her grandmother wears a beautiful silk dress, not running shoes and athletic outfits like her friends' grandmothers will wear to the next day's program. Then, too, Halmoni will be asked to share a family memory, and Mom and Dad have to translate for Halmoni even to Jennifer. But Halmoni reads Jennifer's mind, perhaps because she learned to read her father's mind when he returned from war, as readers discover when Mom translates Halmoni's softly chiming words to the class. Readers can see in her face that Halmoni also worries as she waits to speak—a truly expressive portrait. Halmoni captivates her audience, as she will the audience for this stellar debut. (Picture book. 5-8)