The Ocean Calls

A breathtaking picture book featuring a Korean girl and her haenyeo (free diving) grandmother about intergenerational bonds, finding courage in the face of fear, and connecting with our natural world.Dayeon wants to be a haenyeo just like Grandma. The haenyeo dive off the coast of Jeju Island to pluck treasures from the sea--generations of Korean women have done so for centuries. To Dayeon, the haenyeo are as strong and graceful as mermaids. To give her strength, Dayeon eats Grandma's abalone porridge. She practices holding her breath while they do the dishes. And when Grandma suits up for her next dive, Dayeon grabs her suit, flippers, and goggles. A scary memory of the sea keeps Dayeon clinging to the shore, but with Grandma's guidance, Dayeon comes to appreciate the ocean's many gifts.Tina Cho's The Ocean Calls, with luminous illustrations by muralist Jess X. Snow, is a classic in the making.

AWARD CONTENDER: Tina's lyrical text paired with Jess's cinematic landscapes creates magic that will turn heads.GRANDPARENT-GRANDCHILD BOND: In sharing the haenyeo tradition with Dayeon, Grandma adds more context to Dayeon's understanding of herself. This story sits alongside multigenerational tales like Drawn Together, A Different Pond, and Nana in the City.OVERCOMING FEAR: A tender reminder that the love and support of our families can help us face our fears and choose courage.A CELEBRATION OF NATURE: The haenyeo demonstrate what a respectful relationship with our natural world looks like. Readers will learn more about these "indigenous marine biologists" in the fascinating back matter.The haenyeo work together to keep one another safe as they harvest from the sea to feed their families and neighbors. The Ocean Calls is a story about the IMPACT OF COMMUNITY.These free divers, many of whom are in their sixties, seventies, and eighties, show readers THE POWER AND STRENGTH OF WOMEN'S BODIES.STUNNING ARTWORK: Jess X. Snow brings their talents as a muralist to the breathtaking spreads of underwater life, bodies in motion, and the changing palette of a day on the coast of Jeju Island. This is positioned to be their breakout book.FOR MERMAID ENTHUSIASTS: The haenyeo are affectionately called "granny mermaids," and Jess's illustrations evoke mermaid magic.WE NEED DIVERSE BOOKS: Fulfills Kokila's mission of centering stories from the margins, celebrating the full range of authors' experiences, and answering the call for more diverse children's literature.