Wang, Ann Suk. House Before Falling Into the Sea, The. Hanna Cha, Illus. Dial Books, 03/2024. 40pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-0-593-53015-3. GRADES 2–4. OUTSTANDING.
Kyung struggles to accept her parents’ decision to welcome desperate refugees fleeing North Korea into their coastal home, a location known as a place “before falling into the sea.” As the story unfolds, Kyung begins to see the guests not as strangers encroaching on her space, but as friends and neighbors. The sensitive narrative pairs well with dramatic mixed media illustrations to reflect the era’s tumult and upheaval. The author and illustrator’s personal connections to the story are explained in endnotes, providing historical context to the events described. A glossary, guide to Korean names, and questions for discussion focusing on kindness and empathy are also included. Sources for young children on the Korean War are hard to find, and this moving story helps fill the gap.
Jenny Andrus—Independent