Vermont
Great Reads from Great Places
"Watercress" by Andrea Wang
Age: 4-8 years
Driving through Ohio, a young girl's parents stop suddenly when they spot watercress growing wild in a ditch by the side of the road. The whole family wades into the muck to collect as much of it as they can. At first, the girl is embarrassed, but when her mother shares a story of her family’s time in China, the girl learns to appreciate the fresh food they foraged and the tradition of her Chinese heritage.
Andrea Wang is an award-winning children’s book author who was inspired to write “Watercress” (Neal Porter) by her experience growing up in rural Ohio as a child of Chinese immigrants. Jason Chin (the book’s illustrator), who currently lives in Vermont, is a celebrated author and illustrator of children's books and the recipient of a Caldecott Honor.
Learn more about the 2021 Great Reads from Great Places book selections in this video series