SWS IDEA Working Group
Watercress
Watercress is Andrea Wang's autobiographical story about how gathering watercress by the side of the road and hearing stories about her family brought her closer to, and made her prouder of, her Chinese Heritage.
In this guide, you can find ways to help you more deeply engage with Watercress and its themes:
ANCESTORS
Your ancestors did not survive
everything that nearly ended them
for you to shrink yourself
to make someone else
comfortable.
This sacrifice is your warcry, be loud,
be everything and make them proud.
Nikita Gill
Reading Tips
Make reading a family affair by reading and talking about the book together as a family. Re-read or ask an older child to re-read to a younger child.
Here are some terms to help talk about, and explain book themes, with your little ones:
Identity
Who you are, and all the things that are important to you about yourself. This can include what you look like, where you are from, things you like or are good at, and groups you are a part of.
Family History
The stories of things that have happened to your relatives. Your family history shapes who you are today. Knowing more about your family history can help you understand yourself and other family members.
Heritage
A group’s sense of identity that is handed down from past generations; this includes traditions, values, culture, and objects; because heritage survives from the past and cannot be replaced, current generations are responsible for keeping it alive and passing it on to future generations.
BrainPop: Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Immigration
Moving to another country to live. A person who immigrates is called an immigrant. People immigrate for many reasons – sometimes for new opportunities, sometimes to get away from a bad situation, like a war or natural disaster. Immigrating can be hard because you leave what you are used to and leave many people you love behind and move to an unfamiliar place that may have different languages, traditions, and expectations.
Discussion Questions
Books are a great way for grown-ups to open the door to meaningful conversations about big topics with our little ones. Below are some questions to open dialogue and deepen understanding about the themes in Watercress.
-
Can you think of something that has been passed down in your family? It might be a story, a tradition, or an object. What does it say about your family?
-
How important is food in your family history? What is one of your favorite foods you eat with your family? Why is it your favorite? Did someone special make it for you, or is it a family recipe, or is there another reason?
-
Pick one of the illustrations from the book and try to describe how each person in the picture is feeling. Why do you think they are feeling that way?
In the Author's Words
"I wrote Watercress in an attempt to better understand myself, and instead discovered deep compassion for my parents. I wished that I had come to this realization long before they had passed away. It’s my hope that Watercress will encourage parents and caregivers to share their family history with young readers. As I wrote in my author’s note, memories have the power to inform, to inspire, and to heal."
Andrea Wang
Pause: Why does her parents’ cutting watercress by the side of the road embarrass the main character? Have you ever felt embarrassed by your grownup?
Grown-ups Share: Did you ever feel embarrassed by your own grownups or your heritage? How did you learn to think about those things differently?
In the Illustrator's Words
"I was looking at Chinese landscape paintings, which often have mountains shrouded in clouds and mist. And the painters used soft edges to create this effect. And it always has felt dreamlike to me when I look at those paintings, and I thought that that aesthetic would be nice to bring into the illustrations for Watercress because of this theme of memory in the book."
Pause: Scroll between the photos. Do you see the similarities in the style of painting? Why do you think Jason Chin used different colors for the pictures that take place in Ohio and the pictures that take place in China?
Dig Deeper
Explore these resources with the whole family.
National Geographic
First Name Basis podcast interview with Andrea Wang
More Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Recommendations
Dig In
Below are hands-on activities for the whole family to deepen learning and engagement.
Andrea Wang's Stir-Fried Watercress
-
1-2 tsp. cooking oil
-
1 clove garlic, sliced
-
1 bunch watercress, washed thoroughly and drained (about ½ pound)
-
Salt to taste
-
Toasted sesame seeds for garnish (optional)
-
In a wok or large frying pan, heat the oil over medium-high to high heat. Add garlic and stir quickly with a spatula.
-
After a few seconds, add the watercress and continue stirring for 1-2 minutes, until the watercress has changed color and the stems are tender.
-
If the bottom of the wok runs dry, a couple of tablespoons of water can be added to keep the vegetables from scorching.
-
Add salt to taste and transfer to a serving dish.
-
Sprinkle with sesame seeds and enjoy!