Giving thanks with halmoni Celebrating Chuseok, the Korean harvest festival

Gr 2--4--A heartwarming tale that beautifully captures the essence of the Korean holiday Chuseok. The story revolves around Su-Jin and her grandmother, Halmoni, who has recently moved in with Su-Jin's family. Concerned that Halmoni will miss the traditional celebrations happening in Korea, Su-Jin and her friends with various skin tones decide to organize a Chuseok party of their own. Preparations for the party are detailed with charming illustrations in soft colors, blending sketch and digital drawings. Su-Jin and her friends wrap little gifts in bojagi cloth and prepare traditional foods like Korean scallion pancakes and rice cakes. On the special day, friends and family gather to share stories of their ancestors and play Korean games, creating a festive and inclusive atmosphere. Each page features two or three sentences, making it suitable for children with longer attention spans or higher reading levels. Back matter includes definitions for Korean words and a brief history of the celebration. VERDICT A delightful story about friendship, acceptance, and kindness, perfect for introducing young readers to the rich traditions of Chuseok.--Haley Amendt

A young girl wants to make the Korean Harvest Festival extra special for her grandmother. On this day, families come together, remember their ancestors, and enjoy a feast--similar to Thanksgiving. This is the first year that Su-Jin's Halmoni will be away from Korea, and Su-Jin confides in her pals Maddie and Keisha that she's afraid her grandmother will miss her friends and family. So the girls ask Halmoni to teach them how to observe Chuseok. Together, they wrap small ceremonial gifts known as bojagi and cook traditional dishes such as japchae noodles and scallion pancakes. They invite their friends, and the celebration is a vibrant success, with everyone trying new foods and sharing family stories. The lively descriptions of the holiday convey a sense of warmth as Halmoni is welcomed into the community. The illustrations have a subtle sweetness that delights. Chuseok is a lunar holiday, and images of the moon abound; it all culminates in a luminous full moon. A traditional Korean quilt hanging on the wall contains vibrant geometrical patterns that are echoed throughout the book. Several pages are divided into panels focusing on key moments or objects (a bottle of sesame oil, hands rolling songpyeon, or rice cakes shaped like half-moons). Maddie is light-skinned, Keisha is brown-skinned, and their community is diverse. Heartwarming and festive. (more information on Chuseok)(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.