School Library Journal
July 2013
YUM, Hyewon. This Is Our House. illus. by author. 40p. Farrar/Frances Foster. Aug. 2013. RTE
$16.99. ISBN 978-0-374-37487-7.
PreS-Gr 2–A
girl describes her family history as it relates to her home: “This is the house
where my grandparents arrived from far away….These are the front steps where my
mom and her brothers played on warm summer days….This is the street where I
learned to walk, just like my mom.” The snapshot quality of each statement is
emphasized in the illustrations: each spread includes an informal slice-of-life
scene as well as a framed picture of the relatives during that time. The
cheerful pictures show a loving family enjoying life together, while seasonal
changes and aging characters help show the passage of time. This is a story
about nothing and about everything. There is no real plot or narrative, but it
encompasses the lives of three generations. The intergenerational household may
not be familiar to many modern American kids, but the idea of close family ties
and treasured memories and places is universal. This quiet book could be an
effective conversation starter about personal history at home or in the
classroom.–Heidi Estrin, Congregation B’nai Israel, Boca Raton, FL
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