Ho, Joanna and Kleinrock, Liz. Eyes that Weave the World’s Wonders. Illustrated by Dung Ho. 2024. 40p. HarperCollins, $19.99 (9780063057777) Recommended grade levels K-5.
Rating: 4.5 Buy it! A must-have.
Identities: Korean Adoptee
A young transracial, Korean, adoptee reflects on how her eyes do not match her adoptive parents. This book is a stunning body of poetry in text and illustration that pulls on the heartstrings as the adoptee reflects on how each parent’s eyes make them who they are and support her with their love and care. Despite this, she wonders about the biological mother in Korea whose eyes match hers. She wonders what happened and asks, “What if?” Swirls of color bridge imagery from Korea and her home in the United States.
Perspectives: Inspired by the co-author Liz Kleinrock’s own experience, the introduction to this book expresses the hope that this book is but one within a tapestry of adoptee stories. Beautifully written and informed by her own experience, the letter at the front of the book is written to adoptees. In picture books, rarely if ever, is the biological mother depicted and it is done so with nuance and complexity within the story.
Practice: Teachers have used this as a read-aloud in their classrooms, and families have read this at home with their adoptee(s). Representation matters. Sharing this story with young people in your life breaks the narrative of being “the only”.
The Adoptee Bookshelf 
One response to “Eyes that Weave the World’s Wonders”
[…] If using this book ensure that other adoptee picture books are shared as well. For example, Eyes that Weave the World’s Wonders. A read-aloud of this book should include a deeper conversation about the hurtful comment made and […]
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