Welcome to the final day of 40 craft lessons.
Has it ever happened to you while reading a book that a scene lands so heavily on your chest that you have to take a breath, close your eyes, or sigh, just to let the weight out of your body?
I can recall those moments vividly, even after many years. They were not dramatic events; no car chases, no characters hanging from cliffs, no dragon attacks. Such scenes may make readers bite their nails, hide under blankets, or stand up and shout. But they don’t leave a lasting mark. The moments I remember are quieter, yet they stay with you forever. That is what makes storytelling matter.
Emotional weight comes from meaning. In an era of mass production, many books simply don’t have that kind of weight. You might think this doesn’t apply to picture books. True, many books in the market aim to reach wide audiences and therefore sell well. Still, picture books with deep meaning do exist. Rare, very rare, but they are out there.
Watercress (2021, Andrea Wang, Jason Chin) is one of those rare books.
The story begins with a seemingly simple scene: a family pulls over on the roadside to gather wild watercress. The main character, a nameless girl, is embarrassed and disgusted. The family comes home, and the girl doesn’t like to eat the watercress cooked. She wants to eat only vegetables bought in the grocery store.
Then come the heavier moments. The mother tells her daughter the story of her China, a story of starvation and of losing her brother.
The emotional weight culminates when the child in the story recognizes the meaning behind the watercress. She feels regret for being ashamed, empathy for her parents’ past, and finally pride and connection to her heritage.
Watercress teaches not to shy away from heavy moments. Handle them gently and honestly. That gives the book a powerful emotional weight.
Hint: Don’t explain everything in the text. Leave room for the art to speak. Look at the spread that shows the death of the brother. We only see the empty seat.
I sincerely wish to thank you for reading this series, and I wish you a very Happy New Year. May 2026 be a year of writing great stories.
