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A breathtaking picture book featuring a Korean girl and her haenyeo (free diving) grandmother about intergenerational bonds, finding courage in the face of fear, and connecting with our natural world.
Debuts 8/4/20 from Kokila, an imprint of Penguin Random House
*Starred review from Kirkus:
- "The sea, with equal parts danger and thrill, makes an exciting training ground for a young haenyeo diver."
*Starred review from Booklist:
"Use this sweet story about family tradition, trust, and confidence to support STEM units on weather and tides, sea life, and ecology (the haenyeo are model conservationists). This engaging story with its alluring illustrations also makes a wonderful choice for a read-aloud."
*Starred review from Publisher's Weekly:
"Sturdy prose by Cho (Rice from Heaven) highlights a segment of Korean society whose women preserve a vibrant tradition of enterprise, stamina, and cooperation, and Grandma shines as a kind of generous real-life superhero."
*Starred review from School Library Journal:
"This expressive story is a must-have for any collection. As a bonus, the back matter provides extensive history on the haenyeo tradition, along with safety protocols and quotes from divers."
Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indie Bound, Target, Walmart, & Pottery Barn Kids!
For a signed book: Email Learning Post Toys & myself (Buy from Learning Post, notify them you want a signed copy)
or Storyhouse Book Pub in Des Moines, IA
Available as an audio book!
The Ocean Calls is a Junior Library Gold Standard Selection!
- Fall 2020 Kids' Indie Next List from the American Bookseller Association.
- Kirkus' Best Children's Books 2020
- Freeman Book Award Honorable Mention
- On the CCBC 2021 Choices List
- On Washington D.C.s Capitol Choices Noteworthy Books 2021 List
- Virginia Reads 2021-2022
- Sold at Pottery Barn Kids!
- A winner of the Panda Award from International School of Beijing 2022
- Nominated for the 2022-2023 Maryland Black-eyed Susan Book Award
- A listening selection with VOX Books
- Nominated for the Sakura Medal in Picture Books for 2022-2023 in Japan
Dayeon (pronounced dah-yeon) & her grandma
Teachers & Parents: Check out my teacher's guide!
Why should kids read this? From Danielle Davis of This Picture Book Life Blog: "Why now? Kids and all of us are facing new things, diving new depths." |
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To read & see more about haenyeo check out these links:
Culture of Jeju Haenyeo, UNESCO
Hardy Divers in Korea Strait, NY Times
The Sea Women of South Korea, The New Yorker
Korean Diving Women Carrying on Diving Tradition, LA Times
A Visit with the Haenyeo of Jeju Island, Women Free Divers, You Tube
See me read the book online at Little Shop of Stories with an interview with the illustrator also:
See me read the book at Pottery Barn Kids on Instagram
Hear my editor and I talk about The Ocean Calls at the podcast Picture Book Look
