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The Ocean Calls

The Ocean Calls

A Haenyeo Mermaid Story

About the Book

A breathtaking 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 is a classic in the making.
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Listen to a sample from The Ocean Calls

Praise for The Ocean Calls

Fall 2020 Kids’ Indie Next List 
Kirkus Best Children's Books 2020
Junior Library Guild selection
2021-22 International School of Beijing Panda Book Award
Freeman Award Honor
MARYLAND Black-Eyed Susan Book Award
VIRGINIA Reads
WASHINGTON DC Capitol Choices
WISCONSIN Picture This!
     
“Use this sweet story about family tradition, trust, and confidence to support STEM units on weather and tides, sea life, and ecology.” —Booklist, starred review

“In Cho and Snow’s celebration of this fascinating tradition, the risks and rewards are given only to the worthy—which takes practice, courage, and a grandmother’s love.” —Kirkus, starred review   

“Sturdy prose by Cho (Rice from Heaven) highlights a segment of Korean society whose women preserve a vibrant tradition of enterprise, stamina, and cooperation, and Grandma shines as a kind of generous real-life superhero.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review  

”[A] must-have for any collection.” —School Library Journal, starred review
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About the Author

Tina Cho
Tina Cho is an elementary school teacher with a master’s degree in education from Drake University and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Faith Baptist Bible College. She is the author of many books for young readers, including Rice from Heaven, My Breakfast with Jesus, and The Ocean Calls. More by Tina Cho
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About the Author

Jess X. Snow
Jess X. Snow (they/them) is a non-binary Asian Canadian artist, film director, and Pushcart-nominated poet whose work explores migration, surrealism, environmental justice, and intimacies across cultures and species. Their short films have screened in dozens of festivals across five continents. They are working to build a future where diasporic people of color see themselves on the big screen, city walls, and pages of children's books. By merging community arts activism, healing practices, and cinema in their stories, Jess hopes to encourage others to discover sanctuaries inside themselves. More by Jess X. Snow
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