FINDING PAPA

A family separated reunites in a new home and country.

Mai loves spending time with her father, especially when they play a game called the crocodile chomp. When Papa leaves their Vietnam village in search of a new home, Mama and Mai are left behind waiting until they, too, pack and leave. They wade through waters and travel by boat and through new lands in the hope of reuniting with Papa. In this hard and hopeful history, author Krans and illustrator Bui draw from their own childhood journeys from Vietnam to America in, respectively, the early 1980s and late 1970s. Krans’ prose gently helps young readers understand concepts such as missing loved ones and displacement. Repeated phrasing and recurring elements (crocodiles, mango trees, goodbyes) create a lyrical, compelling narrative and read-aloud. The “CHOMP! CHOMP!” of the crocodile game, which reappears in various situations, particularly evokes an array of emotions, ending in a poignant reunion. Bui’s art, with its intimate portraits of family moments, is full of tenderness and expression. With minimal strokes, faces speak volumes. Backgrounds range from warm-hued dirt roads and verdant rice paddies to stormy waters navigated by crowded boat. When the trio reunite, the bustling American city backdrop fades to abstraction and the family takes the focus. While the story does not explicitly reveal the circumstances leading to the family’s journey, the author’s and illustrator’s notes provide historical context and personal anecdotes. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

An affecting story of courage and hope in hardship.