When a boy and his mother visit the Korean village where she grew up, he is surprised to see that it has become a big city. But one thing remains the same from her stories—the river she played in as a child.
Mommy’s Hometown
Discuss the Book
An Important Trip
Pages 1–9
- Important Moment: After hearing many stories about the river his mother played in as a child in Korea, a boy is finally going to see it for himself.
- Ask and Share: Why do you think the boy likes hearing stories about his mother’s childhood? What kinds of stories do you like to hear from your family or caregivers, and why?
New Replaces Old
Page 10–15
- Important Moment: When they get to his mother’s village, the boy is surprised to find a big city that is different from her stories.
- Ask and Share: How does the boy feel when he discovers that his mother’s hometown is different from the stories she told him? How do you feel when something important turns out to be different from what you expected?
Wading in the River
Page 16–23
- Important Moment: In the middle of the bustling city, the boy and his mother wade into the river—like the mother did as a child, and like the boy has dreamed of doing.
- Ask and Share: Why do you think the mother and her son wade into the river, even though no one else is doing it? Have you ever done something you wanted to do, even though no one else was doing it?
Beautiful City
Pages 24–30
- Important Moment: After wading in the river, the boy can now see the beauty in the big city even as he imagines his mother as a child in her small village.
- Ask and Share: Why does the boy start to see the city differently? Have you ever experienced something new and realized that your feelings at the end of the experience were different from the beginning?