Yunmi and Halmoni's Trip

by Sook Nyul Choi

Book Overview

The author and illustrator who brought us Halmoni and the Picnic have teamed up again to give us a second story about Yunmi and Halmoni, which crosses cultural and generational boundaries as vividly... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0395811805
• ISBN13: 9780395811801
• Release Date: January 1997
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 7.6" x 10.3"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

Bear down, Chicago Bears, badadadadadadada bum-pa-dum, Bear down, Chicago Bears........

I recently reviewed "The King's Secret: The Legend of King Sejong," which I thought was at least interesting for telling a fictionalized story- complete with dragons smoking pipes- about an important historical event, the creation of phonetic Korean alphabet. But the book was written and illustrated by non-Koreans, leading to inaccuracies that go under the radar of the unfamiliar but are offensive to those in the know. I'm happier to review this book, in which an American born and raised Korean visits Korea for the first time. Halmoni, which is the Korean term for grandmother (or more generally can designate an elderly woman) is seen in by her granddaughter, back at home, fully in her element. It is thrilling, yet stirs up the unease of the peripatetic, the vulnerability of the outsider. It's a children's book, a gentle one at that, but has dead-on observations about the anomie experienced within our modern transnational families, where cultural and geographic gaps superimpose themselves on the more universal generation gaps. By the way, off topic, but as a Bear's fan, I can't tell you how happy I am right now. The Cardinals have just finished the biggest collapse of any team I've ever seen. I never stopped believing. I sensed it. A couple big plays on defense, 14 unanswered points in the 4th quarter, none from the Bears' offense. Urlacher strips the ball, a defensive touchdown, a special teams touchdown, then the Cardinals march back but miss the field goal. The Arizona fans had been ecstatic all night. To see them crestfallen at the end, and a generous amount of displaced Chicagoans in Arizona celebrating like they won the Super bowl, is there anything better? Great collapse, great comeback. Coach Green melts down afterwards, a priceless tantrum for fans of the emotional drama behind the athletics. Beautiful moment, I'm all goosebumps. Thank you for indulging me there. Anyway, I unreservedly recommend this book, particularly as a conversation piece for young first or second generation Korean-Americans. And did I mention the beautiful illustrations?

Wonderful book for adults & children

Yunmi and Halmoni's Trip fills a void in the "ethnic" children's book field. Beautifully illustrated and tenderly written, it's a great book to read to your kids or even for yourself. There aren't many childrens books about Koreans and Korean-Americans, so this book is a must for your bookshelf. It's for anyone who wants to read about a loving and understanding relationship between grandmother (halmoni) and granddaughter (Yunmi).