I received a copy of Sora's Seashells by Helena Ku Rhee with illustrations by Stella Lim and Ji-Hyuk Kim from Blue Slip Media and Candlewick Press in exchange for an honest review.

There are many picture books about grief for kids. There are many picture books about celebrating names for kids. Sora's Seashells is the first picture book I've read that is both a picture book about grief but also in celebrating names. The two themes are so seamlessly integrated in this touching and beautiful picture book. 

In Sora's Seashells, Sora enjoys her visits with her grandmother who comes to visit the family from Korea. Sora and her Halmoni like to spend their time at the beach where Halmoni finds the best seashell and leaves it on a bench for another person to stumble upon as a gift. Sora doesn't quite understand this and begins to search for beautiful seashells that she collects in a jar. Halmoni eventually leaves for her home and Sora begins kindergarten at school where a few of classmates make fun of her name. She feels very sad about this when news reaches the family that Halmoni has passed away - Halmoni will never come again to find seashells with Sora. Heartbroken, Sora tells her parents what she has been dealing with at school and how she wishes for a different name. Her parents take her to the beach where she is told the special meaning behind her name - Sora, meaning seashell in Korean, is like the perfect gift - so Halmoni had suggested this name for Sora. Sora returns to school with her jar of seashells where she shares the beautiful meaning of her name with her class - and gifts everyone a seashell. 

The last picture book to touch my heart so deeply was Eyes That Kiss in the Corner by Joanna Ho with illustrations by Dung Ho. Sora's Seashells was such a beautiful picture book and a welcome addition to my picture book library.