THE BEST WINDS

Neilan uses round, sweeping brush strokes to give her illustrations a properly airy appearance in this tale of generations connecting. At first, Jinho would far rather be skateboarding or playing video games than sitting at the table tuning out the stories of his old grandfather—who still wears the traditional slippers and hanboks of his Korean homeland—and “helping” him construct a kite. But soon the lad’s interest is caught and, eager to try out the finished kite, he ignores Grandfather’s advice to wait for the “best wind,” rushing outside alone to fly it. Disaster ensues, but Jinho sets to work on a new kite, and with Grandfather’s hands on his, sets that one soaring. A bit sketchy, but a natural companion for Linda Sue Park’s Bee-Bim Bop! (2005), which also features a Korean-American family—though one that embraces tradition enthusiastically from the start. (Picture book. 6-8)