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The Trip Back Home
These are the gifts brought across the ocean to Korea: Leather gloves. An apron with pockets like flowers. A book with pictures and simple words. What is given in return? Simple gifts like these--and so much more.
Janet S. Wong invites us to join her on the trip back home, revealing that even when family members speak different languages, there is still much they can share.
Janet S. Wong invites us to join her on the trip back home, revealing that even when family members speak different languages, there is still much they can share.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2000
49 people want to read
About the author
Janet S. Wong
50 books31 followersJanet S. Wong was born in Los Angeles, and grew up in Southern and Northern California. As part of her undergraduate program at UCLA, she spent her junior year in France, studying art history at the Université de Bordeaux. When she returned from France, Janet founded the UCLA Immigrant Children's Art Project, a program focused on teaching refugee children to express themselves through art.
After graduating from UCLA, summa cum laude, with a B.A. in History and College Honors, Janet then obtained her J.D. from Yale Law School, where she was a director of the Yale Law and Technology Association and worked for New Haven Legal Aid. After practicing corporate and labor law for a few years for GTE and Universal Studios Hollywood, she made a dramatic career change—choosing to write for young people instead. Her successful switch from law to children’s literature has been the subject of several articles and television programs, most notably an O Magazine article, a "Remembering Your Spirit" segment on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," and the Fine Living Channel’s "Radical Sabbatical."
Janet's poems and stories have been featured in many textbooks and anthologies, and also in some more unusual venues. Poems from Behind the Wheel have been performed on a car-talk radio show. "Albert J. Bell" from A Suitcase of Seaweed was selected to appear on 5,000 subway and bus posters as part of the New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority's "Poetry in Motion" program, and was later highlighted on the Hallmark Channel’s "New Morning" show. And, in April 2003, Janet was one of five children’s authors invited to read at The White House Easter Egg Roll.
Janet and her books have received numerous awards and honors, such as the International Reading Association's "Celebrate Literacy Award" for exemplary service in the promotion of literacy, and the prestigious Stone Center Recognition of Merit, given by the Claremont Graduate School. Janet also has been appointed to two terms on the Commission on Literature of the National Council of Teachers of English.
Janet currently resides near Princeton, NJ, with her husband Glenn and her son Andrew.
After graduating from UCLA, summa cum laude, with a B.A. in History and College Honors, Janet then obtained her J.D. from Yale Law School, where she was a director of the Yale Law and Technology Association and worked for New Haven Legal Aid. After practicing corporate and labor law for a few years for GTE and Universal Studios Hollywood, she made a dramatic career change—choosing to write for young people instead. Her successful switch from law to children’s literature has been the subject of several articles and television programs, most notably an O Magazine article, a "Remembering Your Spirit" segment on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," and the Fine Living Channel’s "Radical Sabbatical."
Janet's poems and stories have been featured in many textbooks and anthologies, and also in some more unusual venues. Poems from Behind the Wheel have been performed on a car-talk radio show. "Albert J. Bell" from A Suitcase of Seaweed was selected to appear on 5,000 subway and bus posters as part of the New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority's "Poetry in Motion" program, and was later highlighted on the Hallmark Channel’s "New Morning" show. And, in April 2003, Janet was one of five children’s authors invited to read at The White House Easter Egg Roll.
Janet and her books have received numerous awards and honors, such as the International Reading Association's "Celebrate Literacy Award" for exemplary service in the promotion of literacy, and the prestigious Stone Center Recognition of Merit, given by the Claremont Graduate School. Janet also has been appointed to two terms on the Commission on Literature of the National Council of Teachers of English.
Janet currently resides near Princeton, NJ, with her husband Glenn and her son Andrew.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
September 27, 2009
How interesting...this book was not listed on goodreads.com so I had to manually add the book to the collection.
Based on Wong's own life experiences of traveling back to her mother and father's home overseas, the author does a nice job of incorporating the Korean language into this book. Everyday chores such as feeding the family's pigs, shopping in the outdoor market for fresh vegetables, and playing a game of hato are all brought to life as the reader learns about the Korean culture. The importance of family and togetherness are common themes throughout the book as gifts are given and received by everyone. With that, the illustrations are beautifully painted with bright colors.
Based on Wong's own life experiences of traveling back to her mother and father's home overseas, the author does a nice job of incorporating the Korean language into this book. Everyday chores such as feeding the family's pigs, shopping in the outdoor market for fresh vegetables, and playing a game of hato are all brought to life as the reader learns about the Korean culture. The importance of family and togetherness are common themes throughout the book as gifts are given and received by everyone. With that, the illustrations are beautifully painted with bright colors.
July 29, 2023
A little girl and her mother are planning a trip “back home to visit the village where mother grew up” in Korea. They shop for gifts to take to the girl’s grandparents (haraboji and halmoni) and Aunt (imo). When they arrive, they give their presents to their family and they give back hugs in return. After experiencing the sights, smells, tastes, and sounds of Korea, the little girl and her mother prepare to go home. The family gives them presents to help them remember their time in Korea, the mother and little girl give hugs.
June 26, 2022
Lovely. For all ages. The trip from the West (US?) to Korea is long, special, and fascinating, but almost any child can relate to how different it is to sleep over at the home of a different part of the family. Iow, it could provoke some wonderfully enlightening discussions, esp. if the parent really listens to the child.
Do note that this is inspired by memories of Wong's own visit as a child and may not be entirely accurate or up-to-date.
Do note that this is inspired by memories of Wong's own visit as a child and may not be entirely accurate or up-to-date.
February 21, 2025
Materials for Children Reading Project
Age Range:
3 to 6
Evaluation - Literary Elements & Artistic Merit:
Detailed watercolor illustrations and a simple family-centered story make this a good quality book.
Assessment - Potential Use:
This book could be used for story time or in a classroom to talk about Korean culture.
Assessment - Appeal:
The appeal of this book is in the easy-to-understand story that centers around family, food, and traditions.
Age Range:
3 to 6
Evaluation - Literary Elements & Artistic Merit:
Detailed watercolor illustrations and a simple family-centered story make this a good quality book.
Assessment - Potential Use:
This book could be used for story time or in a classroom to talk about Korean culture.
Assessment - Appeal:
The appeal of this book is in the easy-to-understand story that centers around family, food, and traditions.
February 1, 2018
A little girl describes a trip she takes with her mother to go visit family back in Korea.
December 4, 2019
A story about a mom and child visiting the mother's family in rural Korea.
It's a good family story about spending time together with grandparents and sharing in daily activities.
It's a good family story about spending time together with grandparents and sharing in daily activities.
November 25, 2014
This picture book is an example of unbalanced in authenticity-- strong narratives with concerning illustrations about Korean culture. The story is a reflection that tells Janet Wong's memory of visiting her mother's hometown when she was 4. It has a nice story that recalls how special it was to visit and hung out with mothers' side relatives.
This book is though the most concerning book in terms of cultural authenticity and accuracy in portrayal of Korean culture. Yes, I said " the most". Illustration of country side of the town is NOT the main issue but depicting a country side as an antiquated ancient village with inaccurate portrayal of cultural practice is seriously problematic. Janet Wong shared with me in person how her memory about visiting her mother's hometown when she was 4 years old matches to the pictures in this book in terms of rural area landscape and country side living styles and conditions. Yet, Wong had heard Korean readers question why rural area images being represented as Korean cultures in her book and Janet Wong answers her memory of visiting her mother's hometown is reflected in the book.
Perhaps her "when-I-was-4" memory dismissed the issues of accuracy though. Problematic issues with the book is not rural area being represented in the book as a part of Korea. Inauthentic portrayal of Korean culture and rural area community is concerning. There are range of issues in cultural inaccuracy.. Dragon decorations on the entrance door, unidentifiable products made with straw, wearing shoes inside of rooms, portraying rural area as ancient community without any sign of modernism, inaccurate looks in Korean traditional dress, playing pigs at the front yard etc. Janet Wong recalled she was told to take a dump at a pigpen, but that doesn't exactly illustrate how the Chinese illustrator depicted pigs' space at the house. Illustrating playing pigs at the front yard instead of pigpens is rather distorting pig farming cultures in rural Korean community. Wong has a piece of memory of pigpen space but it isn't illustrated accurately.
I observed authors and illustrators who have Korean heritage grew up in the U.S. have too much capital as "cultural insiders" when the mainstream audiences are not equipped with cultural literacy. The fact they grew up in the US and their first language is English language not Korean and they haven't lived in contemporary Korean society put them more outsider side with better accessibility for reading Korean culture than insider. They shouldn't dismiss that they are telling stories of the homeland that their parents grew up and they visited sometimes or not.
This is not about this book, yet, I hope Korean-American authors do get verifications from Koreans who got education in Korea when authors express Korean language in English as part of stories. Yes, the mainstream readers cannot tell whether it is accurately written as far as it sounds foreign language or Korean-ish enough, but we also have lots of recently-moved-to-the US Korean children who know their home well also they need to read authentically presented internal diversity within Korea contexts. Kids from city or urban or in-between have right to read authentic books about their home country regardless how different ecological setting their experiences living were in Korea. The authors' time telling their childhood memory which has too much time gap with young readers' recent memory of Korea may rais another question and definition of authenticity. Eventually cultures evolve and change. This book is still widely read for Korea/Asia unit at schools and more simply because we really do not have too much books about Korean cultures in the U.S. and the story is written by well-respected children's author whom many American readers love.
This book is though the most concerning book in terms of cultural authenticity and accuracy in portrayal of Korean culture. Yes, I said " the most". Illustration of country side of the town is NOT the main issue but depicting a country side as an antiquated ancient village with inaccurate portrayal of cultural practice is seriously problematic. Janet Wong shared with me in person how her memory about visiting her mother's hometown when she was 4 years old matches to the pictures in this book in terms of rural area landscape and country side living styles and conditions. Yet, Wong had heard Korean readers question why rural area images being represented as Korean cultures in her book and Janet Wong answers her memory of visiting her mother's hometown is reflected in the book.
Perhaps her "when-I-was-4" memory dismissed the issues of accuracy though. Problematic issues with the book is not rural area being represented in the book as a part of Korea. Inauthentic portrayal of Korean culture and rural area community is concerning. There are range of issues in cultural inaccuracy.. Dragon decorations on the entrance door, unidentifiable products made with straw, wearing shoes inside of rooms, portraying rural area as ancient community without any sign of modernism, inaccurate looks in Korean traditional dress, playing pigs at the front yard etc. Janet Wong recalled she was told to take a dump at a pigpen, but that doesn't exactly illustrate how the Chinese illustrator depicted pigs' space at the house. Illustrating playing pigs at the front yard instead of pigpens is rather distorting pig farming cultures in rural Korean community. Wong has a piece of memory of pigpen space but it isn't illustrated accurately.
I observed authors and illustrators who have Korean heritage grew up in the U.S. have too much capital as "cultural insiders" when the mainstream audiences are not equipped with cultural literacy. The fact they grew up in the US and their first language is English language not Korean and they haven't lived in contemporary Korean society put them more outsider side with better accessibility for reading Korean culture than insider. They shouldn't dismiss that they are telling stories of the homeland that their parents grew up and they visited sometimes or not.
This is not about this book, yet, I hope Korean-American authors do get verifications from Koreans who got education in Korea when authors express Korean language in English as part of stories. Yes, the mainstream readers cannot tell whether it is accurately written as far as it sounds foreign language or Korean-ish enough, but we also have lots of recently-moved-to-the US Korean children who know their home well also they need to read authentically presented internal diversity within Korea contexts. Kids from city or urban or in-between have right to read authentic books about their home country regardless how different ecological setting their experiences living were in Korea. The authors' time telling their childhood memory which has too much time gap with young readers' recent memory of Korea may rais another question and definition of authenticity. Eventually cultures evolve and change. This book is still widely read for Korea/Asia unit at schools and more simply because we really do not have too much books about Korean cultures in the U.S. and the story is written by well-respected children's author whom many American readers love.
May 18, 2009
The Trip Back Home
Janet S. Wong
What better way to introduce the reader to one’s culture than to take them home with you to see where you, or your mother, grew up: the place where Grandmother and Grandfather have continued the daily routine of life.
This very quiet memoir brings us in full circle. It begins with Janet and her mother offering her aunt, Grandmother, and Grandfather gifts from America, and receiving hugs in return. It ends with Janet and her mother giving hugs in return for gifts from her aunt, grandmother, and grandfather.
The nostalgia is reminiscent of many trip-back-home stories in many different cultures. Such stories invite readers into a world usually quite different from their own. Yet, the reader sees, through the eyes of a child, how those from generations before live their lives. More importantly in this picture book, the reader feels the love and generosity of all three generations through the text and illustrations. Huddling the family together both inside and outside emphasizes the family ties. The perspective of looking down upon, or across a field from, adds to the sense that the reader is looking in on the family.
The book is beautiful from Bo Jia’s cover picture at the market to the transparent textboxes that are like rice paper with the watercolors still showing beneath.
The watercolor illustrations are soft and shadowy, reminding me of how the daily routines of life are beautiful, colorful, and peaceful. Each picture shows family close together sharing in the chores as well as the games; learning of each other’s lives and cultures.
The text is beautiful also; set up in free verse, with wonderfully simple images of daily life and a visit with relatives who live far away.
As a book to share with children of all cultures, it is wonderful because it captures the going home to grandparents’ homes that transcends race and ethnicity. Match this one up with Big Mama, Knucklehead, and When I Was Young in the Mountains to demonstrate the universality of experience.
I only have one concern with the book. It does not include the Korean pronunciations of the Korean words. Perhaps Wong didn’t want to mess up the beauty of the verse and illustration with pronunciation marks. But a pronunciation key in the back of the book would be helpful. With internet access I am sure I can find the correct pronunciations, but not everyone has great access to use spontaneously when reading. I don’t even have it here in my hotel room.
Because I have met Janet S. Wong and trust her representation of her cultures, I assume that she and Bo Jia have things right, like the dragon fish with the nut or grape in its mouth on the first and last pages. I might guess they are meant for good luck or safe and enjoyable journey.
Janet S. Wong
What better way to introduce the reader to one’s culture than to take them home with you to see where you, or your mother, grew up: the place where Grandmother and Grandfather have continued the daily routine of life.
This very quiet memoir brings us in full circle. It begins with Janet and her mother offering her aunt, Grandmother, and Grandfather gifts from America, and receiving hugs in return. It ends with Janet and her mother giving hugs in return for gifts from her aunt, grandmother, and grandfather.
The nostalgia is reminiscent of many trip-back-home stories in many different cultures. Such stories invite readers into a world usually quite different from their own. Yet, the reader sees, through the eyes of a child, how those from generations before live their lives. More importantly in this picture book, the reader feels the love and generosity of all three generations through the text and illustrations. Huddling the family together both inside and outside emphasizes the family ties. The perspective of looking down upon, or across a field from, adds to the sense that the reader is looking in on the family.
The book is beautiful from Bo Jia’s cover picture at the market to the transparent textboxes that are like rice paper with the watercolors still showing beneath.
The watercolor illustrations are soft and shadowy, reminding me of how the daily routines of life are beautiful, colorful, and peaceful. Each picture shows family close together sharing in the chores as well as the games; learning of each other’s lives and cultures.
The text is beautiful also; set up in free verse, with wonderfully simple images of daily life and a visit with relatives who live far away.
As a book to share with children of all cultures, it is wonderful because it captures the going home to grandparents’ homes that transcends race and ethnicity. Match this one up with Big Mama, Knucklehead, and When I Was Young in the Mountains to demonstrate the universality of experience.
I only have one concern with the book. It does not include the Korean pronunciations of the Korean words. Perhaps Wong didn’t want to mess up the beauty of the verse and illustration with pronunciation marks. But a pronunciation key in the back of the book would be helpful. With internet access I am sure I can find the correct pronunciations, but not everyone has great access to use spontaneously when reading. I don’t even have it here in my hotel room.
Because I have met Janet S. Wong and trust her representation of her cultures, I assume that she and Bo Jia have things right, like the dragon fish with the nut or grape in its mouth on the first and last pages. I might guess they are meant for good luck or safe and enjoyable journey.
March 10, 2011
Published in 2000 by Harcourt Children's Books
Interest Level: 3rd-7th Grade
This book chronicles the journey of a little girl and her mother back to Korea where she meets her extended family and Korean culture. The illustrations are truly culturally specific and the story is about family and giving gifts. Additionally, the different activities and reactions of the girl are interesting and express a respect for her culture. I enjoyed looking at the illustrations and reading the descriptions that Wong uses to narrate the story.The inclusion of the persimmons reminded me of a poem from "A Suitcase of Seaweed" and reinforced the cultural authenticity. Overall, a great book about an experience that is not included in many picture book accounts.
Interest Level: 3rd-7th Grade
This book chronicles the journey of a little girl and her mother back to Korea where she meets her extended family and Korean culture. The illustrations are truly culturally specific and the story is about family and giving gifts. Additionally, the different activities and reactions of the girl are interesting and express a respect for her culture. I enjoyed looking at the illustrations and reading the descriptions that Wong uses to narrate the story.The inclusion of the persimmons reminded me of a poem from "A Suitcase of Seaweed" and reinforced the cultural authenticity. Overall, a great book about an experience that is not included in many picture book accounts.
April 21, 2014
This book talks about the journey of a girl and her mother back to Korea. She there gets the chance to meet her extended family and Korean culture. The illustrations in the book speak for themselves and show culture that I think add to the books plot. I really enjoyed seeing the girls attitude towards certain scenarios, and thought it was interesting to see a different viewpoint of things. The girl shows respect for her family, and I think that can be a great learning tool for children to show that appreciation for where you came from is important and to embrace it. This book is really interesting, and although I had to look at a online version I thought it would still be a resourceful read in the classroom.
April 26, 2010
This story is about a little girl and her mom who takes a trip back to Korea to visit her grandparents and her aunt. She calls her grandmother Halmoni, her grandfather Haraboji, and her aunt Imo in her native language to show the closeness of teh Korean culture. It was the first time this little girl visits her native land and living a farm life. She gets to feed teh pig, goes to teh market to buy fresh produce, and she gets to watch her Haraboji sandwiching persimmons.
August 10, 2010
A nice story about a Korean American going with her mother to visit her Korean family in rural South Korea. Overall, I liked the story, but sometimes the multicultural part of it seemed a bit forced. It was a story more about Korean life than what it means to come to a country you only know through your mother. The illustrations were okay, but I thought they could have been better.
September 24, 2010
A young Korean American daughter and her mother take a trip to Korea to visit their family. Students with family that lives in various countries may have similar stories. I enjoyed reading about a family sharing stories and bonding over a game of cards and trip to the outdoor market. This reminds me of the joy and excitement I felt when I flew to France to meet my grandparents for the first time!
January 26, 2012
This book was just OK. It is full of detailed information and vocabulary that would not be developmentally appropriate for the students I teach. However, it is a touching story. It is quite long and wordy, so I wouldn't suggest reading it aloud all in one setting. I would also need to teach background information/knowledge to help the students understand the meaning of the story.
July 9, 2013
A girl and her mother buy gifts for the family they are going to visit in China. The girl helps her grandfather in the morning with the fire. She feeds the pigs before shopping for food with her grandmother. She helps make dinner and sew winter clothes. The family spends time together until it is time for the girl and her mother to go back home. They get gifts for home before they leave.
January 21, 2010
This is a great informational book about the Korean author's trip back home; but is told their her daughter's perspective. I would have this book in the multicultural text set in my classroom library and it is also a good resource for teaching a unit on family.
April 19, 2011
A story about a girl's trip to Korea where she learns about her mother's ancestors.
S/S: great book to use in a lesson on cultures around the world.
Teaches about universal family love.
Art: students can make a collage with artifacts or pictures form magazines that represents their culture.
S/S: great book to use in a lesson on cultures around the world.
Teaches about universal family love.
Art: students can make a collage with artifacts or pictures form magazines that represents their culture.
August 5, 2011
memoir study book - this was a cute story about a little girl's trip back to Korea with her family and what they take and what they bring back.
October 16, 2014
Beautiful illustrations, simple but nice story.
April 5, 2015
A beautifully told tale of a young girl and her mother (living somewhere in the English-speaking world) visiting extended family in Korea and how they pass their time together.
March 6, 2016
Illustrations of hochigaki!!!!!!!omg!!!!*
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews