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The Fall 2008 issue of Multicultural Review includes a really nice review of The Wakame Gatherers by Holly Thompson and illustrated by Kazumi Wilds:

"Nanami is an extraordinary girl in the eyes of both her grandmothers. One (Gram) is from Maine and the other from a sea village in Japan. Nanami lives in Japan with her parents, so Gram has to travel far for her unforgettable visit.

"As Namami translates for her grandmothers, she learns of the war between their countries and about the peace today that allows them to be friends. Each grandmother learns to appreciate the other. They both also learn about seaweed.

"During Gram's visit, Obaasan takes her and Nanami to gather seaweed to eat, narrating through the gathering and preparation processes. Obaasan is shocked that in Maine, where the conditions are perfect for growing seaweed, no one eats it. So, upon her return home, Gram tries her hand at seaweed gathering along with the routine setting of her lobster traps.

"This is a heartwarming example of how being from different cultures, countries, and races and speaking another language are not really barriers to appreciation and acceptance unless we allow them to be. There are many biracial, binational, and bilingual families today that prove this is true. I have been asked many times if my own family's differences cause problems. The answer is that as long as there is respect, there is no problem, just as is the case in this charming picture book."

The Society of Writers, Editors & Traslators (SWET) is a an organization based in Japan. In thier April 2008 newsletter, there is a lengthy interview of Holly Thompson, author of The Wakame Gatherers. She talks about the impetus for the story, the publishing process, and the themes of the book.

It's a thoughtful and in-depth discussion of these issues, but of course, I was just a little thrilled to see my own name mentioned:

Q. Was it difficult to pitch a book with wakame in the title? Did you have to coach anyone on the pronunciation?
A. Actually, publisher Renee Ting of Shen's Books was adamant about keeping wakame in the title. One of her goals is to bring other cultures to children in the United States, and this includes introducing new words. Different publishers have different approaches, but many picture books published in North America nowadays include non-English words in the text. The glossary in the back of The Wakame Gatherers has a pronunciation guide. Of course many people still mispronounce the word wakame, but it doesn't seem to be a marketing deterrent.

Read the entire interview here.

Papertigers.org has a nice review of The Wakame Gatherers by Holly Thompson and illustrated by Kazumi Wilds:

"The loving relationship between grandchild and grandparent takes on an added dimension in this touching story of intergenerational communication and connection...

The Wakame Gatherers is a good example of how common experiences can bring people together across oceans and through time. It reminds us that reaching greater understanding of one another is always worth the journey."

January's issue of The Edge of the Forest features an interview with our own Holly Thompson talking about The Wakame Gatherers, Japan, and writing. (She even mentions me and Shen's Books-- yay!) Here's an excerpt that I found particularly interesting, as it pertains to some of the issues we covered in our "Crossing Cultural Borders" series of posts.

The Edge of the Forest: In workshops you've conducted you've spoken about some of the mistakes writers make when attempting to write multicultural fiction. Could you give a couple of examples?

Holly Thompson: Perhaps the most serious mistake writers make is not knowing a culture deeply enough; this can result in a book full of clichés--in setting, characterization, and dialogue. Another mistake is not doing enough research and relying on rather narrow personal experience. A writer doesn't need to be a native of a culture to write about a culture; research with primary resources, substantial direct experience and interviews with experts can enable a writer to create an authentic story.