What Will You Be, Sara Mee? ~ Picture Book & KID KANDY

What Will You Be, Sara Mee?
By Kate Aver Avraham
Illustrated by Anne Sibley O'Brien
(Charlesbridge, 2010)

What Will You Be, Sara Mee? is a story about Sara Mee and her brother. Sara Mee is celebrating her first birthday. In Korea, babies who turn one have a tol, or the first-birthday celebration that includes many guests, gifts, and the ritual event of the toljabee.

Toljabee is a prophecy game where items symbolizing different careers are placed in front of the child. Whichever item the baby chooses first supposedly indicates what he or she will become when he or she grows up.

Sara Mee celebrates with her older brother, who helps with the toljabee.

What Will You Be, Sara Mee? teaches readers a little about cultural practices in Korea. Sara Mee lives in America with her family, but the family still enjoys Korean traditions.

If you want to learn about other cultures, and maybe about some of your own neighbors, What Will You Be, Sara Mee? is a good place to begin.

KID KANDY:

What tradition does your family have?

~ Think about the things you like to do with your family.

~ What is one thing you do the same, every year, week, month, or holiday? Is that your family tradition?

~ Choose one family tradition. How did it begin? What does it mean? Did other generations have the same tradition or is it new for your family? What do you like about the tradition?

~ Think about What Will You Be, Sara Mee? What did you find interesting about the toljabee? What was different to you? What was the same?


Traditions are often passed down from parents to children to grandchildren. Families, cultures, and countries have different traditions. But the important thing is that celebrated traditions help us become who we are and understand our family.

And it is so much fun to learn about other traditions, isn't it?