Tuesday Trailer

Title: Here I Am

Author: Patti Kim

Publisher: Capstone Young Readers

Pages: 40

Format: Wordless Picture Book

Available: September 1, 2013
Review Copy: Netgalley ARC

Summary: Newly arrived from their faraway homeland, a boy and his family enter into the lights, noise, and traffic of a busy American city. The language is unfamiliar. Food, habits, games, and gestures are puzzling. They boy clings tightly to his special keepsake from home and wonders how he will find his way. How will he once again become the happy, confident kid he used to be? Walk in his shoes as he takes the first tentative steps toward discovering joy in his new world.

Review: I am quickly becoming a fan of wordless picture books. There is so much that can be expressed through the illustrations when they are well done. If a reader did miss the point though, in this particular book, there is an explanation at the end. It tells how the author was also an immigrant and experienced the same types of things as the main character. 

This is a beautiful book. The illustrations do a fantastic job of showing how overwhelming it could be to shift to a new country, but also how stepping out can be difficult, but rewarding. You can feel the emotions throughout the book along with the main character as he rides this roller coaster of change.  

I am looking forward to adding this one to our library. We have many students who can relate to the immigrant story, but I think that children of any background have experienced changes in their lives that have thrown them off center for a time. This is a book that will speak to many.