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The House Before Falling into the Sea Hardcover – Picture Book, 16 April 2024
by Ann Suk Wang (Author)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 7 ratings
A child and her family take in refugees during the Korean War in this poignant picture book about courage and what it really means to care for your neighbors.
A child and her family take in refugees during the Korean War in this poignant picture book about courage and what it really means to care for your neighbors.
Every day, more and more people fleeing war in the north show up at Kyung Tak and her family's house on the southeastern shore of Korea. With nowhere else to go, the Taks' home is these migrants' last chance of refuge "before falling into the sea," and the household quickly becomes crowded, hot, and noisy. Then war sirens cry out over Kyung's city too, and her family and their guests take shelter underground. When the sirens stop, Kyung is upset-she wishes everything could go back to the way it was before- before the sirens, before strangers started coming into their home. But after an important talk with her parents, her new friend Sunhee, and Sunhee's father, Kyung realizes something important- We're stronger when we have each other, and the kindness we show one another in the darkest of times is a gift we'll never regret.
***Three starred reviews***
*"A poignant tale of light in the darkness-and compassion in times of war."-Kirkus Reviews
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"This gorgeous picture book depicts a historical moment rarely, if ever, covered in picture books--the Korean War--with stunning illustrations and deft prose that centers on a young girl's experience. . . . It's an accessible, compassionate, and lovely picture book."--Book Riot
*"Drawing from her own family's experiences, Wang has crafted a lyrical gem of a story. Adopting a child's perspective, the author manages to make topics such as warfare and loss of one's home comprehensible to a young audience, while Cha's bold strokes and splashes of color convey movement and enhance the emotional weight of the subject."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review
*"Cha's illustrations pay exquisite attention to the beauty of the seaside landscape, using color to intensify the experience of being near the ocean. Vibrant greens and blues swirl, producing the feeling of an ever-moving sea, while wheaty shades of tan create sand and scrub, all of which contrast with the darkness of a makeshift air raid shelter where women and children hide. This gorgeously illustrated book contains surprisingly beautiful turns of phrase and metaphors ("we sat like two quiet hills, the breeze combing through our hair"). A touching homage to the author's own grandparents' heroism, which also offers rare insight into complex feelings about personal sacrifice and witnessing the suffering of others."--The Horn Book Review, starred review
*"Wang's story, based on her mother's account of growing up in a household that welcomed people displaced during the Korean War, is a touching narrative that focuses mainly on the children's experiences. The back matter includes an informative glossary and notes from both the writer and the illustrator, whose grandmother lived near the story's setting as a teenager. Cha's expressive mixed-media illustrations reflect the characters' emotions and recreate the beautiful setting in this moving picture book."--Booklist, starred review
About the Author
Ann Suk Wang, born in Korea, is a graduate of UCLA and Boston University in mass communications and a former journalist. She lives in California with a husband, two sons and a canine son. The House Before Falling Into the Sea is her first picture book.
Hanna Cha, Caldecott honor- and APALA winning-illustrator of The Truth About Dragons, is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design. She spent her childhood in both Korea and America and currently lives in Boston, where she loves crinkling her nose in the early morning breeze and snuggling her tiger-like cat, Hobac. Hanna is also the illustrator of Circle Round and author-illustrator of Tiny Feet Between the Mountains.
Product details
Publisher : Dial; 1st edition (16 April 2024)
Language : English
Hardcover : 40 pages
ISBN-10 : 0593530152
ISBN-13 : 978-0593530153
Reading age : 4 - 8 years
Dimensions : 27.79 x 0.86 x 23.01 cmBest Sellers Rank: 717,368 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)672 in Children's Historical Fiction on Military & Wars
945 in Exploring Asia for Children
2,241 in Children's Fiction Books on Growing Up & the Facts of LifeCustomer Reviews:
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 7 ratings
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Ann Suk Wang
Ann Suk Wang was born in Seoul Korea, is a graduate of UCLA (BS) and Boston University (MS) in mass communication, and is a former journalist. Currently she’s an advocate for adopting children (and dogs) and mentors teen girls. When Ann’s not writing, reading or listening to podcasts, she’s most likely jazz dancing, roller skating, praying with moms, tending her butterfly garden or eating doughnuts in California with a husband, two sons and a canine son.
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Emily W
5.0 out of 5 stars Hopeful story inspired by real lifeReviewed in the United States on 28 July 2024
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Beautifully written and illustrated, "The House Before Falling into the Sea" conveys a sense of hope of resilience that reaches its audience of all ages. My favorite page is this one, a fragile pause in the tension of strangers arriving and war sirens that follow. May we all find our "quiet hills" in these turbulent times.
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K. Wang
5.0 out of 5 stars A Heartfelt Journey with Stunning IllustrationsReviewed in the United States on 26 May 2024
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"The House Before Falling Into the Sea" is an incredibly touching book with breathtaking illustrations that elevate its moving narrative. The story, rich with emotion, presents a timeless and memorable moral about resilience, hope, and the enduring power of love and community. Each page's artwork brings the characters and their journey to life, making this book a visual and emotional treasure. A must-read, it leaves a lasting impression, resonating deeply with readers of all ages. Highly recommended!
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Lisa & Bill
5.0 out of 5 stars Buy this book for a powerful message on kindness and caring for your neighbors!Reviewed in the United States on 18 March 2024
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Here is a compelling story of war, refugees, generosity, and kindness that is vastly different from most of the children's books I have read to our children and grandchildren. Beautifully illustrated, the author tells a powerful story of her family's experience in war, a story that transports you into another country and time, that opens your mind and that of your children to a world where people tangibly care for others despite inconvenience and hardship. This is a book that will enable children to grow in understanding crucial universal truths! Buy it, read it, and gift it to magnify the message and impact!
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S Yetter
5.0 out of 5 stars Our kids need stories like this!Reviewed in the United States on 14 March 2024
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I direct an afterschool program in a community that has been largely shaped by immigration stories, and although the languages might be different, our kids truly need more stories like this— ones that reflect Korean culture, interdependence and hospitality, unconditional, love, and expressions of loss and grief, especially in ways that kids can understand… The House before falling into the Sea captures all of this and the beautiful watercolors are breathtaking! A must for school and after school libraries!
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===
The House Before Falling into the Sea
Ann Suk Wang
,
Hanna Cha
(Illustrator)
4.34
330 ratings102 reviews
A child and her family take in refugees during the Korean War in this poignant picture book about courage and what it really means to care for your neighbors.Every day, more and more people fleeing war in the north show up at Kyung Tak and her family’s house on the southeastern shore of Korea. With nowhere else to go, the Taks' home is these migrants' last chance of refuge “before falling into the sea,” and the household quickly becomes crowded, hot, and noisy. Then war sirens cry out over Kyung's city too, and her family and their guests take shelter underground. When the sirens stop, Kyung is upset—she wishes everything could go back to the way it was before the sirens, before strangers started coming into their home. But after an important talk with her parents, her new friend Sunhee, and Sunhee’s father, Kyung realizes something We’re stronger when we have each other, and the kindness we show one another in the darkest of times is a gift we’ll never regret.
Genres
Picture Books
Historical Fiction
War
Childrens
Historical
Asian Literature
Family
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40 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 12, 2024
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4.34
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
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Rachel
223 reviews
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March 21, 2024
A house stands on a cliff before the sea, the time is the Korean War. The family who lives there takes in as many refugees as they can, the daughter excited at first, then frustrated at how hot and crowded it becomes. After talking with another girl her age, she realizes that her house is a place of safety and support for the people who come, and she sees how they band together.
A unique insight into the harsh reality of the Korean War, this picture book is a lovely read-aloud for instructing children about a time in history often overlooked, or discussing togetherness in hard times. The artwork is gorgeous and propels the story forward with striking lines and movement in multi-media layering of watercolor and ink. I think this picture book has a strong chance of a Caldecott honor.
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Nadia Ali
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20 books
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April 10, 2024
The House Before Falling into the Sea by Ann Suk Wang, with illustrations by Hanna Cha is a beautiful story that transports you to Busan during the Korean War. Guests take shelter at the last house before the sea where little Kyung lives. The story rises in emotion and empathy for Kyung who begins to dislike all of the guests in her house until she learns what being there really means for them. It’s an emotional story that tugs at the heart strings.
The illustrations are gorgeous. I like the double spread of the two girls sitting by the sea throwing stones. A wonderful addition to any bookshelf and great for classrooms with ample backmatter for educators.
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Shella
995 reviews
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November 2, 2024
I loved everything about this picture book. Heavy theme- this is for older elementary. Don’t skip the back matter. The illustrations are beyond description- exquisite.
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Marie Prins
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3 books
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February 13, 2024
Before many of us were born, there was a war on the other side of the world – the Korean War in the early 1950’s. Thousands of people fled south after soldiers chased them from their homes and villages. If not for Umma and Appa’s house of refuge, they may have fallen into the sea. This is a war and refugee story, told through the eyes of a child Kyung, who at first does not understand what is happening. But as she befriends the children who cram into her home, she too finds courage and compassion to support them and their families until peace finally returns to their country. Although these events took place decades ago, this lyrical, gentle story with its soft, water colour illustrations beautifully describe the plight of too many children who every year experience war, homelessness, and refuge with courageous neighbours and strangers. Highly recommended!
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Tee Lee
10 reviews
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March 17, 2024
This was a beautiful story of community, family, and friendship. Every unique story is so important to treasure to know our own histories. This book was an amazing tribute to the author’s grandparents who saved many lives during the Korean War and protected them until the war ended. Coming from the prospective of a child (author’s mother), the book teaches us the importance of community, protecting one another, and being there for each other. While the Korean terms are not always defined in the book, the illustrations are easy to understand and appreciate the unique cultural aspects that can’t be translated into English. There is a glossary for the Korean terms at the end of the book. Be sure to read the author’s and illustrator’s notes at the end of the book. Their notes make me want to hear more of their families’ stories.
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Melissa Murray
5 reviews
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March 25, 2024
A powerful story of a community surviving in a war-torn village during the Korean War. Told from a young child’s point of view, Ann Suk Wang’s The House Before Falling into the Sea, shows young Kyung Tak and her family taking in refugees as the war encroaches further into their village.
The girl tries to find moments of escape with a new friend, but sirens and the dangers they signal constantly call them back to reality. In one powerful illustration, by Hanna Cha, the families huddle together in a dark shelter as Kyung Tak longs for her life before the war—before it was crowded full of so many people. Throughout the lyrical text and soft illustrations full of movement and active brushwork, she comes to understand that her family’s is the last safe home and the only place these people have left to go and she finds the strength to continue.
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Susan
420 reviews
71 followers
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July 27, 2024
Even though this book is set during the author mother’s childhood in the Korean War, it has a classic feel and a timeless message about empathy. Author Ann Suk Wang uses a repeated motif of pebbles and stones as her first-person narrator learns importance of caring for others, even if it means a crowded or noisy home. Hanna Cha’s richly colored illustrations bring the narrator’s emotions to life.
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Janet
3,173 reviews
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July 14, 2024
Extremely beautiful illustrations for this story of yet another group of displaced people because of war and political upheaval. This story tells of a family who served their relatives and neighbors during their displacement during the Korean War. Told through the eyes, heart, and feelings of a young girl who relates to another young girl who is fleeing her home.
Adults and older children can learn some Korean culture from the author’s and illustrator’s notes and the glossary. I learned the term, Suseak viewing naturally occurring stones from nature. Now I have a term for my love of seeing beauty in the stones have collected from childhood.
The illustrator used a mix of media including Photoshop, watercolor, sumo ink, water solvable pencils, and gouche. My eyes loved the beautiful blues of this illustrations.
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Maexo♡
96 reviews
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July 21, 2024
A cute historical book telling the story of a terrible war and how it taught a little girl about the importance of family and opening up your home to others.
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YingYu Chen
179 reviews
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June 19, 2024
If I need to introduce a book about war, korean war, or impact of war to children, this is my top three.
It's actually a book about war, but no violence was shown. Instead, the tension is raised little by little while more and more people are coming to stay with Kyung's family.
I am amazed at how the story is built up while showing the eruption of emotion, and how the pictures complement with the text and send it to the next level.
While the meaning of the title does not reveal itself until much later in the story, it is definitely a plus for readers to learn why the title is about the house. Well, not just the building itself, but also the people who lived in it, and their kindness, and their legacy.
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Shari (Shira)
2,368 reviews
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June 25, 2024
A beautiful book with a poignant story, but it would be a hard sell to the read aloud set. The illustrations are fabulous making it worthy of Caldecott attention.
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Katie Lawrence
1,733 reviews
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June 11, 2024
This is a stunningly illustrated picture book about a family sheltering refugees during the Korean War. The illustrations are really vibrant and have an almost movement like quality to them. I did find myself wishing that the back matter included an explanation of the Korean War. When I read this with students I feel like I’d need to find a solid explanation to ground them in what was happening at that time. I love the messages about helping your neighbor and sharing what you have.
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Tiffany S
130 reviews
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April 2, 2024
A lushly illustrated telling of the experiences of the thousands of refugees fleeing war in the North. Many of which were chased into the sea itself. Based on the author's family sheltering refugees during the Korean War, this is a tale of both hopelessness and warm hope for the future. Despite going through the terrifying and uncertain times, Kyung learns that the refugees are their fellow neighbors and people that they should protect and hold up in hard times.
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Mary
3,206 reviews
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April 15, 2024
Kyung's quiet life is disrupted when her family continues to welcome people into their home even though their home is now crowded. She is distressed about this situation until it is explained to her that these families have nowhere to go and that they are giving them a safe haven. Wang tells a poignant story based on her mother's experience during the Korean War. A thoughtful picture book about displacement and hospitality.
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Aolund
1,580 reviews
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April 23, 2024
A story of the Korean War, refugee experience, and the power of generosity and welcoming in our neighbors and friends in times of crisis. I loved how the author and illustrator both incorporated the stories of their grandmothers into this telling. Author's and illustrator's notes, Questions to Consider, and a Glossary accompany this rich story.
Themes: War, Refugee Experience, Generosity, Community, Neighbors
Age range: Elementary
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Jessica Milo
33 reviews
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March 16, 2024
Ann and Hanna's picture book is a beautiful story about helping others, having kindness, and making heartwarming, lasting connections through hardship and trauma. Ann's writing is impeccable and well-paced, bringing this story to life and offering light in a dark situation, while Hanna's stunning illustrations bring great movement and life to each scene. 5/5 stars!!!
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Debra Hines
585 reviews
7 followers
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March 27, 2024
Beautiful story of the author's grandparents who provided shelter to many refugees during the Korean Conflict. Questions such as who is my neighbor and how can you show kindness to others coincide with this historical story. A glossary of Korean terms as well as the backstory of the author's and illustrator's families and a key to Korean names are also included in the back of the book.
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Sara Lawson
632 reviews
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April 3, 2024
Based on a true story, this little book with a big heart reminds is of the importance of loving our neighbor and offering hospitality to those in need. I loved the glimpse it gave into what Korea looked like for children during the war. The words were beautiful as were the illustrations. I hope to see more collaborations between Ann and Hanna in the future.
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Thomas Bell
1,846 reviews
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April 27, 2024
This was wonderfully told, the artwork was beautiful, and the story was meaningful. Full 5 stars.
The illustrations do however underestimate the population of Busan, then and now: Busan had about 280,000 people when it was liberated from Japan, and it hit over 1,000,000 just a couple years after the Korean War. Now it has close to 3 1/2 million people!
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Sarah Hovorka
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8 books
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March 8, 2024
This picture book tells the story of families hiding from soldiers in the last place they can run before reaching the sea. It's a serious book that sensitively handles tough, strong emotions while ending on a hopeful note of how we can all save each other.
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Ashley
21 reviews
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April 11, 2024
Such a beautiful picture book with a wonderful message. It is remarkable to learn about the experiences of these families. I appreciated the glossary and author’s note at the back. A truly lovely book.
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Elizabeth
70 reviews
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May 2, 2024
A powerful story about hope and helping others. The illustrations are bold, beautiful, and just as moving as the text. While this story is set during the Korean War, it is very much relevant to today and the hardships that many face. This timeless book belongs in every school and home library.
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