See Us Bloom
Written by Kyunghee Kim and Illustrated by Emily Paik
Bibliography:
Kim, K., & Paik, E. (2023). See us bloom: Poems on compassion, acceptance, and bravery. Modern Marigold Books.
Summary:
See Us Bloom is a collection of poems written by Kyunghee Kimm that tell the linear story of a young Korean American child named Ba-Da as they move to a new place with their family. The poems and illustrations come together to write the complete story: the family unpacking, Ba-Da's experience at the new school, Ba-Da making new friends, and Ba-Da still practicing their own traditions and hobbies with their family. The book tells the story of integrating to a new place while still being yourself.
Analysis:
Kim uses free verse to tell the story of the ups and downs of being a child making a big move to a place outside of their culture. She relays the feel of nervousness that comes with such a big change while also conveying the self-assuredness that can be followed to make it through. Through each poem, Kim explores the variety of emotions that can be experienced from life-altering moments and ways to stay true to one's self when everything around them is so different from themselves.
The two poems I included below are great examples of that. The first one, We Can Show Our Light, reiterates the need to do what is important to you and do what makes you feel comfortable. The second, We Are Brave When We Say No, on its own insists that you can stand up for yourself and that "no" is a clear message on its own. However, when it is paired with the illustration done by Paik, the poem becomes focused on how many BIPOC people are treated in America and pressured to change their culture to fit in. In the illustration, someone (presumably the teacher) introduces the main character to the class saying, "Meet Ba-Da, or Liam!" Unfortunately, this type of white-washing happens a lot. But, Ba-Da has enough confidence to speak up for themselves and correct them, saying, "no, please call me Ba-Da."
The rest of the illustrations throughout See Us Bloom provide a great balance of visual stimulation to give the poems some distinct context. There is plenty of diversity throughout the characters shown. There are children of many races and ethnicities show, as well as a few different injuries and disabilities — one kid is shown to have crutches with a cast while another has more permanent crutches. There is also a character with hearing aids.
Excerpt:
We Can Show Our Light
Do not hide the things that bring you joy.
Eat what you love.
Dress how you want.
Speak in languages that feel like home.
Do what lights you up,
because what makes you happy
will light up the world.
Bonus Excerpt:
We Are Brave When We Say No
It is not easy
to speak up for what is true for you.
When you feel uncomfortable or upset,
you are allowed to say NO.
Even when your voice shakes,
even when you're nervous, you can say it.
With practice, it will become easier.
Speak Up
NO can be a good word. A big, brave word.
Activity Idea:
Since See Us Bloom was written and illustrated by two women of Korean heritage, this is a great opportunity to teach about Korean culture. Now, it is not possible to make a comprehensive lesson about every aspect of Korean culture for one lesson in a classroom or one event at a public library, so any activity would have to focus on a singular aspect. Creating a traditional Sam Taeguk fan for a craft can allow the instructor to teach a little about the artistic side of Korean culture as will as their beliefs that are entwined with their country's flag. The Taeguk is the red and blue symbol found on the Korean flag. The symbol is similar to the Chinese Yin Yang in which it represents balance: the blue is meant to represent the negative and the red represents the positive. It can also represent the balance of Heaven (red) and Earth (blue). In the Sam Taeguk fan, a streak of yellow is added to represent Humanity. The fan itself is often used in traditional Korean dances.
To make the fan, follow the crafting link below for all instructions and for the listed of necessary materials.
Outside References:
Korean flag (Taegukki). Hong Park Tae Kwon Do College, Edmonton Alberta`. (2015, November 12). http://www.hongparktaekwondo.ca/members-area/perseverance/korean-flag-taegukki/#:~:text=The%20origin%20comes%20from%20the,flag%20of%20’Great%20Extremes’
Traditional Sam Taeguk Fans from Korea. City of San Diego. (n.d.). https://www.sandiego.gov/city-clerk/inforecords/mayoral-artifacts/gallery/traditional-sam-taeguk-fans-korea#:~:text=It%20is%20a%20variation%20of,includes%20yellow%20to%20represent%20humanity
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