About This Book
A parent might reach for this book when their child expresses embarrassment over a grandparent's accent, public behavior, or "old-fashioned" ways. In "Apple Pie and Onions," young Rebecca loves her grandma dearly and enjoys her stories about coming to America from Russia. But when her grandma has a loud, emotional reunion with an old friend in a public market, speaking Yiddish and crying, Rebecca is mortified. This story validates a child's complex feelings of love and shame, gently showing how understanding a person's history can turn embarrassment into empathy and pride. It's a tender and essential story for ages 6-9 that opens conversations about family history, immigration, and why the things that make our families different are also what make them special.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
The book deals directly with the shame a child can feel about their family's cultural differences. It also touches on the hardships of immigration (poverty, leaving family) in a gentle, retrospective way. The resolution is very hopeful, as the protagonist's understanding deepens and her negative feelings are resolved through storytelling and connection.
