The Wakame Gatherers is a reference to the art of gathering wakame seaweed, an important food and condiment in the Japanese diet. This provides the premise for an engaging story about a young bi-cultural girl in Japan whose grandmothers meet for the first time. It is a story about the beauty of shared experiences.

True enough, the full-page, full-colour illustrations, rendered in what appears to be watercolour or gouache, are a bit on the homespun side (they are not as perfectly rendered as the illustrations of the masterful Chris Soentpiet, for example). But Kazumi Wilds's illustrations are detailed enough to give a great insight into everyday Japanese life, and the homespun quality lends itself well to the story of the simple pleasures shared between a girl and her two grandmothers.

In fact, there is so much that is charming about The Wakame Gatherers. For one thing, we see that this is the story of a Japanese-American child -- Nanami -- who lives with her Japanese father and grandmother (Baachan), and her American mother, in Japan -- certainly a refreshing departure from the America-centric norm. Also, the characters of the grandmothers are well-developed; not just there as "grandparent figure" -- the two older women are physically different but are similar in their youthful ebullience. Despite a language barrier (Nanami is translating) the two women share a bond, not only as grandmothers to this little girl, but through an understanding of seaside life (Gram is from Maine, while Baachan lives -- ostensibly -- on the Kamakura peninsula, near Tokyo). They are both energetic grandmothers, sharing an interest in marine life (in particular the many different kinds of seaweed), and life in general. One double-spread in the book gives us a glimpse into another area of mutual understanding -- living through war as a child. This conversation comes up as the two women and their granddaughter are knee-deep in the sea, "fishing" for wakame. "Nanami-chan, always protect this peace," says Baachan, against the backdrop of waves, surfers, dog-walkers and laughing children on the beach…

The story ends with the hint of more to come, as an excited Nanami helps to convince a flustered Baachan -- clutching an airline ticket, a gift from Gran -- that flying in an airplane will be an adventure she will certainly be able to handle. I hope the author goes ahead with such a story, for which I offer my suggestion of the working title: Baachan and the Giant Lobster.

The final two pages of the book include a brief informative piece about wakame seaweed, as well as recipes for wakame miso soup, wakame salad, and wakame-lobster sandwiches (Gran's own recipe). There is also a glossary of Japanese words found in the text, along with a pronunciation guide.

The Wakame Gatherers is, I suspect, a memoir -- with recipes. But for sure it is a wonderful book for Japanophiles of all ages, bi-cultural families -- and people who love grandmothers.

Karmel Schreyer
30 April 2008

Karmel Schreyer writes educational materials for Asian children and is the author of the young-adult novels, Naomi: The Strawberry Blonde of Pippu Town and A Singing Bird Will Come: Naomi in Hong Kong.