The Ocean Calls book cover
Pre K - 3
4 Starred Reviews!

The Ocean Calls

By Tina Cho

Illustrator: Jess X. Snow

A breathtaking picture book featuring a Korean girl and her haenyeo (free diving) grandmother about intergenerational bonds, finding courage in the face of fear, and connecting with our natural world.

Dayeon wants to be a haenyeo just like Grandma. The haenyeo dive off the coast of Jeju Island to pluck treasures from the sea–generations of Korean women have done so for centuries. To Dayeon, the haenyeo are as strong and graceful as mermaids. To give her strength, Dayeon eats Grandma’s abalone porridge. She practices holding her breath while they do the dishes. And when Grandma suits up for her next dive, Dayeon grabs her suit, flippers, and goggles. A scary memory of the sea keeps Dayeon clinging to the shore, but with Grandma’s guidance, Dayeon comes to appreciate the ocean’s many gifts.

Tina Cho’s The Ocean Calls, with luminous illustrations by muralist Jess X. Snow, is a classic in the making.

Educator Resources

State Awards

Recommended reading lists from your state's teacher or librarian associations!
  • Maryland
    • Black-Eyed Susan Book Award
  • Virginia
    • VA Reads
  • Washington D.C.
    • Capitol Choices
  • Wisconsin
    • Picture This!

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