Mo, Cherry. Home in a Lunchbox. Cherry Mo, Illus. Penguin, 06/2024. [40]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-0-593-66134-5. GRADES Kindergarten–3. OUTSTANDING.
Heart-themed lunchbox in hand, Jun from Hong Kong cheerfully sets off for the first day of school in the United States, but her high spirits are dashed when classmates ignore and sometimes even laugh at her efforts to speak English. Jun’s emotions—frustration, anger, sadness, and joy—are conveyed in expressive, soft-hued watercolor panels that include minimal text and an abundance of pink. Sparkles and hearts appear whenever Jun opens her lunchbox packed with familiar treats made by mom, including vegetable chow mein, thousand layer pancake, and braised tofu. Not only do these items bring comfort by reminding Jun of home, they also help her make friends as the delicious aromas attract interest, conversation, and the exchange of food. Back matter includes a glossary of Cantonese words, as well as a mouth-watering display and description of the contents of Jun’s lunchbox. With similar themes to Gibberish by Young Vo (Levine Querido, 2022), this heartfelt and heart-filled book deserves a place in the canon of immigrant stories for children.
Jenny Andrus—Independent