NPM: A Suitcase of Seaweed by Janet Wong: Post #11

A Suitcase of Seaweed & More by Janet Wong

ABOUT THIS BOOK

A Suitcase of Seaweed was originally published in 1996 by Margaret K. McElderry Books, an imprint of Simon and Schuster, as thirty-six poems plus three prose pieces. It received many accolades and was named an NYPL Book for the Teen Age and also an NCSS Notable Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies.

While the entire text of the original book is presented here in A Suitcase of Seaweed & MORE, more than half of this book is brand new. You’ll find snippets of story about the inspiration behind the poems, extensions of the themes, and general musings, as well as writing prompts to get young readers thinking, talking, and also writing about their own identities. Wong’s “Advice for Writers” will inspire them to write their own books, too!

From Kirkus: “With its new content, this poetry collection now offers layers of meaning both literary and practical, making it a strong resource for teachers of creative writing, school libraries, and anyone interested in exploring identity and belonging.”  

HOW OUR DIFFERENCS CAN CONNECT US

I purchased A Suitcase of Seaweed when it was first published. Even though I'm not Korean or Chinese American, I'm the daughter of an immigrant who came to this country from Poland around 1920. All four of my grandparents were Polish immigrants, too. People from different countries have different traditions and eat different foods. When they come to America, they often want to keep some of their ethnic traditions and prepare foods that they ate--as my parents would say--in the "old country."  

Janet explains her inspiration for her poem A Suitcase of Seaweed. Her Korean grandmother (Halmoni) came to the United States for her first visit around 1975 or 1976. At the airport, Janet spotted her grandmother coming out of Customs dragging a heavy suitcase stuffed so full that she held it shut with duct tape. Janet hoped it was filled with special presents for her--traditional Korean dresses and shoes and paper fans. Instead, her Halmoni had stuffed her suitcase with seaweed and dried squid--foods that Janet's mother had told her that she wasn't able to find in any of the markets where she lived.

A Suitcase of Seaweed

by Janet Wong

Across the ocean

from Korea

my grandmother,

my Halmoni

has come--

her suitcase

sealed shut

with tape,

packed full

of sheets

of shiny black

seaweed

and stacks

of dried squid.

We break it open,

this old treasure

chest of hers,

holding our noses

tight

as we release

its ripe

sea smell.

Janet's poem spoke to me of an experience that I had in the summer of 1967 when I was twenty years old. I was going to visit my Aunt  Irene in Medina, Washington. She had moved away from Massachusetts more than a decade before. My father's family insisted that I take along foods that my aunt and uncle said they couldn't get out in the Seattle area--fresh kielbasa and kasha. I can't remember what other foods I packed in my carry-on bag. I was concerned about the smells that might emit from that bag while I was on the plane.

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In her book, Janet poses a hypothetical situation and some questions for children to think about:

Your family is moving to another country for a year. You don't know a whole lot about this place, but you know you won't find your favorite foods there. What will you pack in your suitcase? Chocolate? Cheese? Will people look at your suitcase and think that you are strange?

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BOOK GIVEAWAY

I'll be giving away an autographed copy of A Suitcase of Seaweed & More by Janet Wong. It's not only an excellent poetry book--it's also an excellent classroom writing resource, which could help to inspire students to write poems about their own life experiences.

To be entered into the drawing for the book, all you have to do is to comment on any of my Wild Rose Reader posts that I publish from April 14th through April 20th. I'll announce the winner on Sunday, April 21st.

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RECOMMENDED BOOKS

 

The Ugly Vegetables by Grace Lin

 

Apple Pie 4th of July by Janet Wong

 

 

My Chinatown: One Year in Poems by Kam Mak

 

 

 

Yum! MmMm! Que Rico!: America's Sproutings

Haiku by Pat Mora

 

 

 

Bee-bim Bop! by Linda Sue Park

 

 

 

Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto