Helena Ku Rhee – författare

In this diverse picture book, a young immigrant from South Korea finds community and friendship in an apartment house filled with other newly arrived kids.When Jae looks out the window of his new home, he wishes he could still see his old village, his old house, and his old friends. But his new apartment feels empty and nothing outside is familiar. Jae just arrived from South Korea and doesn't even speak the new language.  Yet, making friends is the same wherever you go and he soon meets a girl with a colorful bird perched on her shoulder. Rosa knows just how Jae feels and the two become fast friends. Not only does Rosa show Jae his new neighborhood but she shows him how his imagination can bring back memories of his old home.  Then Rosa leaves unexpectedly one night but leaves her parrot for Jae. He thinks about the song that Rosa would sing: “When I fly away, my heart stays here.” And when Jae meets two other newly arrived kids, he teaches them Rosa's song and becomes their guide to this new world.From the creators of the highly acclaimed The Paper Kingdom, comes a new book about the importance of community and demonstrates how a simple act of kindness can be passed along to others.

When Mina invites friends over, she is embarrassed by the Korean tradition of removing shoes before entering a home until she understands the meaning of the custom.Mina’s mother is a seamstress who works from home and always keeps the cupboard full of snacks. Her friends like to gather at her house, but Mina hesitates to ask them to remove their shoes before entering. Mina loves most of the Korean traditions that she celebrates with her mother, but this one involves her friends. Why do they have to be different? When her mother gently reminds her that traditions connect you to your ancestors and to your past, Mina gathers her friends to explain that she lives in a no-shoes house. To her surprise, Mina finds out that her friends have different customs that they follow at their homes. They are happy to honor Mina’s culture but how will they remember? A trip to the laundry with her mother to deliver newly mended clothes, gives Mina a great idea. Now she knows just what to do.From the author of the highly acclaimed The Paper Kingdom and Rosa’s Song comes a new story based on the author’s own experience growing up and learning about the importance of family traditions.