I am highlighting this book today because it is about family roots, and March is the month where I love to celebrate family roots. First, because many people revel in Irish roots the month of March because of St. Patrick’s Day. I do have a bit of Irish ancestry to join in the St. Patty’s Day fun, as well as English, Danish, Swedish, Scottish, and German. Second, I love celebrating family roots in March because RootsTech is often held this month.

Here’s why I love the book:

-it’s based on a true story of family hospitality, compassion, service, love, and sacrifice

-it involves family roots, did I already say that, LOL?

-it takes place in Korea, which I have a fondness for, since one of my brothers served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in South Korea, and then lived there after his mission. One of my Veggie Gals girlfriends lives there now, after serving a mission there, then two other Veggie Gals also served a mission there. All three of them had my brother as their Korean language teacher in the Missionary Training Center. A nephew, a brother-in-law, and my former bishop also served missions there. To top it off, so did famous author Brandon Sanderson!

-it involves history, so when you read it to your child for homeschooling it will help the child, and you, feel some emotion and context behind the division of Korea into North and South with the 38th parallel.

-you can learn Korean words and culture by reading this book. Things like “kimchi” and “goguma.”

-it teaches the importance of community. I love, love these two lines from the book:

“Our visitors are not stones we can toss to the sea. They are people, our neighbors, to help and to love.”

“We’re all scared, but it’s easier to face our fears if we stick together and hold each other up.”

-it is just soooo lovely! The ink and watercolor illustrations are just so intoxicatingly beautiful. They give me such a supreme yummy feeling. Like the kind of yummy feeling I get when I listen to “Longer” by Dan Fogelberg. The kind of yummy that just makes me want to melt into a bathtub of hot water and bubbles and never get out of the tub. Until the water gets cold, LOL. The kind of yummy that just brings tears to my eyes and make my heart ache.

I highly recommend this book! It is a keeper! Buy it or get it from your public library today! It’s a book you will definitely want to share with your children, grandchildren, even neighbors. It was a contender for the 2025 Caldecott Medal, and I can see why.

Want more picture book suggestions? Go here.

Check out books for St. Patrick’s Day here.

Check out stories, poems, and scriptures to celebrate family roots here, in my free Family Devotionals Ebook.