Just One Gift

This slim collection of poems, a companion to Park and Sae-Heng’s previous collaboration The One Thing You’d Save, both inspired by Korean sijo verse, invites readers to reflect deeply about the needs and desires of people in their lives. After drawing from a hat the word family, friend, or a question mark that represents “other,” Ms. Chang’s students must choose someone they know who fits in that category. Told to consider “if you could give that person just one gift, what would it be?” the youth mut then pick something that the person has never asked for. Following initial confusion, the children brainstorm: a yard for a plant-loving dad, a vacation for a couple who owns a 24-hour convenience store, plane tickets for a grandparent to visit their grandchild in Nepal, and—in a private journal entry—a promise to support an older sister who recently confided in the writer that she “likes likes” girls. While the racially diverse characters’ individual voices aren’t often distinct, the loose sijo format makes each page approachable, creating an easy-to-digest, poignant presentation that effectively engages readers. Final artwork not seen by PW. Ages 8–12. (Apr.)