Park, Linda Sue. One Thing You’d Save, The. Robert Sae-Heng, Illus. Fiction. Clarion, 03/2021. 72pp. $16.99. 978-1-325-51513-1. OUTSTANDING. GRADES 4-6.
“Imagine that your home is on fire. You’re allowed to save one thing. Your family and pets are safe, so don’t worry about them.” So begins the homework instruction for Mr. Chang’s class. No writing necessary. The answers are shared orally. What readers see is each student’s page of explanation and an illustration of their object in situ. The genius is in the detail, and the back and forth among the students as they respond to each other, joke, reflect, open up, and shift their perspective, all in a format that feels conversational. An author’s note discloses it is actually a traditional Korean poetic form. The layering of the separate stories reveals both diverse individuals and a community. Equally spectacular as a read-aloud, a self-read, and inspiration for a class project.
Melisssa McAvoy, Retired