Happy Poetry Friday, everyone! Thank you so much for visiting my blog. Interested in more information about Poetry Friday? Click here. Please be sure to visit our host Marcie Flinchum Atkins for a glimpse of her relaxing Nevermore Retreat and the Poetry Friday roundup.
This week, I am happy for the opportunity to review the recently released picture book from a wonderfully poetic writer, my critique buddy, Korena Di Roma Howley. Korena’s powerful writing shines in her new story Sarang Saves the School, colorfully illustrated by Joowan Oh and published by Candlewick Press.
Based upon real events, this story opens in a small fishing village in South Korea where the local school is in danger of closing. Many families have relocated to cities to find work, and Sarang sits in a classroom with the few remaining children. Will the school be able to remain open with so few students?
To make matters worse, if the school closes, will Sarang and her parents need to move to the city and leave behind her beloved grandparents?
Sarang uses her ingenuity and determination to find a solution that not only saves the school, but also benefits earlier generations of women who were denied an education.
In this heartwarming story of female empowerment, Sarang turns a seemingly insurmountable set of problems into a multi-generational solution that holds her family, the school, and the village together.
One aspect of this story that I love is its appreciation for the importance of education. Sarang and her family prioritize education in their lives. In the United States, we may sometimes take teachers, schools, and our education system for granted, but when our education system is challenged, in ways both small and large, I hope we rise to the occasion, like Sarang, and fight for an equal education for all.
This inspiring story is available in both e-book and hard-cover today. Thank you to Korena and Candlewick for permission to share selected spreads.