Watercress

Watercress is an autobiographical picture book by Andrea Wang, illustrated by Jason Chin, drawn from Wang's childhood as the daughter of Chinese immigrants in rural Ohio. On a drive in the family's old car, her parents suddenly pull over when they spot watercress growing wild in a ditch by the road. Armed with rusty scissors and a paper bag, the whole family wades into the mud to gather it. The girl is embarrassed and wishes her family would simply buy food at the grocery store like everyone else. Later, at dinner, her mother shares a story from her own childhood in China, and the meal takes on a new meaning. Chin's luminous watercolors move between the Ohio countryside and the mother's memories. The book is for children about 4 to 8 years old. It won the 2022 Caldecott Medal and received a 2022 Newbery Honor.