Superficially this is a lovely story about a father encouraging his daughter and building her skill and confidence. The bright and intricate illustrations, with their consistent focus on Eijo drew me from page to page.

Yet, in the end, I felt nothing. When Eijo is teased by children her own age, she solves what we know from experience is a heartbreaking and discouraging problem instantly and easily. She doesn't make mistakes in any significant or disastrous way. Her relationship with her father is somehow conflict-free, and they address each other in a breezy and informal way that is not characteristic of the culture in which she lives. Her skill in painting seems to come effortlessly, supported by just a few gentle critiques from her endlessly loving father.

In fact, good old bumbling Hokusai is depicted as a combination of "woke" Gen-Z dad and 1950s "Father Knows Best" in costume. His mistakes are generously covered over by his smart little daughter. His personality and actions don't seem shaped by his social and cultural context at all. In fact, he seems to have no struggles in dealing with his daughter, no attitudes that differ from those of a contemporary liberal-minded young father. Where are the relatives, the mother or aunties pushing Eijo to acquire the skills a young woman would have needed? Where are the male friends or students who object to Eijo hanging around?

For me, books that seem to show that success is based on innate talent and that achievement is relatively effortless give my students the wrong message. Depicting Hokusai as a Gen-Z dad taking care of his prodigious daughter gives the wrong message about history and culture, telling kids that in the end we are all exactly the same instead of telling them that historical figures operated in a very different context from ours.

There is a wonderful movie called Miss Hokusai (based on a manga that I cannot find) that is definitely not for young kids but does depict creative struggle and tough conflict in what I feel is ultimately more inspiring. For me, characters who achieve their goals without heartbreak and struggle are out of reach. Those who fail and fight give hope to those of us who are not somehow born with a paintbrush, math book, or keyboard that pour greatness on the world from early childhood. More failure, a fiercer fight, and a real sense of culture and context would have made "Hokusai's Daughter" a more inspiring and engaging read.

Follow him, be right

No! Elegant, lively Bold

Powerful ideas Soar

Gracefully determined Grow!

Saved he whispers, She Leads On

Instead of sticking around and substitute teaching, I started looking abroad. I looked into Japan first, but eventually I chose South Korea for my first teaching job. I was scared, nervous, and completely unsure of what I was walking into. At the same time, I felt excited and ready to do something different. It was a big move away from the typical path of going to school, getting a local job, and getting married soon after.

My friends were excited for me, but they were also nervous. So were my parents, especially my mom. When they dropped me off at the airport in Omaha, my mom offered to pay for my ticket that I had bought and said I could just live with them until I found a teaching job nearby. I appreciated the offer, but I still got on the plane, full of nerves.

Now, looking back, I see that decision as one of the best things I’ve ever done. That experience helped me grow up, shaped how I see the world, and influences how I teach and reach students today. I did eventually come back to the Midwest, but living and working in South Korea was an experience that I never would trade a secure path for.

Dena Van den Bosch

You probably don’t remember me, but about 15 years ago I was rushed to your hospital in the middle of the night from Uijeongbu, a suburb just north of Seoul. One of my co-teachers and her sister came with me in the ambulance. I remember holding their hands while they spoke gently to me, and the siren wailing as we sped into the city. I had never moved through Seoul that fast before.

When we got there, I was first placed in a hallway with other patients, then moved to a more specialized area. Even though I didn’t speak Korean fluently, every nurse, doctor, and student who came by tried their best to communicate with me, and I tried to do the same. I remember feeling scared, but also comforted by how hard everyone worked to help me understand what was happening.

Eventually someone explained, both to me and to my parents on the phone, that I had an obstruction in my vena cava that was blocking blood flow to my heart. You were hoping to remove it with a thrombectomy, but you warned that if things got complicated, you might have to open my chest. You explained everything as clearly as you could, and even with the language barrier, we understood what was at stake.

After the procedure I was moved again, and your team checked on me nearly every two hours. One night a friend of mine had come to visit. She was there when I suddenly stopped breathing because one of my lungs had filled with fluid from the infection spreading. She called for help, and your team responded so quickly. I remember her holding my hand while you inserted a chest tube to drain the fluid. It was terrifying, but you stayed calm and steady, and I trusted you.

In the ICU, I was lucky to have two nurses around my age watching over me. One of them even lent me her new "smartphone" during her shifts. I didn’t really know what that meant at the time because smartphones were still so new. I spent hours playing a silly snake game on it since there wasn’t much else to do except wait for my two 30-minute visitations, eat meals, and sleep. It helped me feel normal again. That small act of kindness really stuck with me because she had her own work to do but still took the time to help me stay sane.

Later, another team helped me feel more comfortable by making sure I had familiar food, like “American-style” meals. I still remember the scrambled eggs smothered in red ketchup. They also looked out for my mom, who had flown in to be with me and had only been to Korea once before, just for about a week. Your kindness toward her meant just as much as the care I was receiving.

So, thank you. For all of it. For treating me with kindness and respect. For making me feel safe when I was scared and far from home. For taking such good care of my mom too. I will never forget what you did for me.

With love and gratitude,
Amber

Eager for their treat when the bombs they uncover

Rats in our front yard sniffing and scurrying

All the left-behind, dropped-behind, forgotten figs devoured

Rats saving farmers’ and children’s and mothers’ arms

Rats trolling the garden space drawing trails that never really

Find the lines between what’s evil and divine.

The 2025 Read Your World Classroom Kit

This comprehensive LGBTQIA+ classroom kit is an essential resource for educators, parents, and librarians committed to creating inclusive learning environments where all children feel seen, valued, and respected.

https://readyourworld.org/all-classroom-kits/

When You Find the Right Rock by Mary Lyn Ray. Through vibrant illustration and evocative text, the author and illustrator of When You Find the Right Rock carries readers along on a journey of discovery, from the mountains to the sea, it’s all about learning the beauty of being in the moment, connecting with nature, and the thrill of finding a precious keepsake to call their own.

Of course, there is an old favorite Everybody Needs a Rock  by Byrd Baylor. This simple picture book tells readers about how to choose the perfect rock. “The size must be perfect. It has to feel easy in your hand when you close your fingers over it. It has to feel jumpy in your pocket when you run. Some people touch a rock a thousand times a day. There aren't many things that feel as good as a rock--if the rock is perfect.”

A Pocket Full of Rocks by Kristin Mahoney is a picture book that explains about rocks---how they make excellent chairs for fairies, how they are perfect for writing your name on the sidewalk, or just holding in your hand when you need reassurance.

If You Find a Rock by Peggy Christian.  Illustrated with photographs, this joyful, poetic text celebrates rocks everywhere—as well as the mysterious and wonderful places they are found.

 Scribble Stones by Diane Alber. This story starts off with a little stone who thinks he will be become something amazing but then soon realizes he had become a dull paper weight. He's on a mission to become something greater and in the process meets scribble and splatter and they all come up a creative way to bring joy to thousands of people.

Kindness Rocks (Kindness Rocks the World) by Sonica Ellis This isn't just a story about rocks—it's about the way kindness can spread like ripples in a pond. With simple words and touching moments, this book reminds children (and grown-ups too!) that even the smallest gestures can turn someone’s day around.

Creating Kindness: How One Small Painted Rock Can Make a Big Difference by Rebecca Greene.  

One day, Huckleberry learns that his neighbors could use some cheering up after some disappointing news. So, he and his best friend Olivia decide to decorate ordinary rocks with some extraordinary messages. 

A Pebble for Your Thoughts: How One Kindness Rock at the Right Moment (Kindness book for children) 

by Megan Murphy. A rock for each kindness. It all started with a single stone on a beach in Cape Cod and now spans the globe. The Kindness Rocks Project, founded by Megan Murphy, is based on the profound truth that one kind message at the right moment can change someone’s day, their outlook, and their whole life. The project has become an international grassroots movement! The messages on these thoughtful pebbles take many forms: gratitude, affirmations, encouragement, offers of hope, all signposts along the way for someone to find at exactly the right time.

The Inuksuk Book by Mary Wallace. The author, in consultation with Inuit elders and other noted experts, gives a fascinating introduction in words, pictures, and paintings to the many forms of the inuksuk structure and its unique place in Inuit life and culture.

Make Your Own Inuksuk (Wow Canada!) by Mary Wallace. This full-color book provides an engaging overview of inuksuit ― what they are, why they were important in the past, and how they can bring significance to our own lives today. It also has step-by-step instructions to show how to find and prepare suitable stone, stack and balance rock, and choose the perfect spot for an inuksuk. 

To find out about Canadian Inuksuk (also spelled inukshuk, plural inuksuit) figures that made of piled stones or boulders and constructed to communicate with humans throughout the Arctic. Look at :  https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/inuksuk-inukshuk