Set in South Korea, the origin story of Yumi’s jumoni (Korean Lunar New Year blessing pouch) is rooted in family. Grandma cut her beautiful red silk wedding gown to make blankets for her children. As her kids grew up, grandma made red vest and a quilt from the pieces. Grandma then used the red silk of her vest to make Yumi’s blessing pouch. The gift of the blessing pouch includes the gift of intergenerational family memories. Grandma’s Red Silk Dress brings to mind the Yiddish folktale of a coat worn out and repurposed again and again until it is a handkerchief. Used together, these stories provide authentic cultural and familial perspectives.
As part of a math series, the purpose of this title is to demonstrate the concept of whole and parts. In the instruction of fractions, the unequal parts described in the story would confuse the concept rather than clarify for young learners.