The Best Kind of Mooncake
by Pearl Auyeung (Author)
Once upon a morning in Hong Kong, in the alley of Tai Yuen Street, a girl is promised a mooncake with a double-yolk center--the best kind!
The special mooncake seems like the only excitement on an otherwise boring day in the market where nothing changes... until an exhausted stranger falls to his knees right in the street! He ran through forests, swam through rivers, and even stowed away on a ship, all to get to Hong Kong. Now at the end of his journey, all he needs is a bite to eat, but no one seems willing to help--not even the girl, if it means giving up her prized treat.
The girl's ultimate decision has surprising, far-reaching consequences in this mostly true story that reminds us that even the smallest acts of kindness hold the power to change lives, for the giver as much as the receiver.
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School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 3--It's admirable when an author can tell a heavy story with lightness and clarity. This picture book utterly succeeds, packing weighty themes of displacement and loss against a rich, zippy background of early morning in a Hong Kong market. When the narrator is a child in the market, she sees a man interrupt the boring flow of everyday life. He's tired. He's sad. Overall, he's hungry. What happens next changes her outlook forever. While this story is essentially about how we can help each other through tough times, it has the rhythmic bounce and forward motion of a Dr. Seuss or Sandra Boynton story. The text font changes, with bold words and staggered lines, making it perfect for children to follow along and get swept up in the emotions. It's fast-paced and fun to read, with hilarious alliteration and onomatopoeia a-plenty. The sensory appeal of the illustrations expands the world and captures interest. VERDICT A compelling story of generosity in a delightful, cacophonous setting, this deftly told story introduces how a single choice improves the future. Children will pore over this one.--Cat McCarrey
Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
A historically specific setting with an eternal lesson. -Kirkus Reviews
[W]arm and reflective [...] Like a double-yolk mooncake, this tender-hearted and culturally specific nod to the golden rule should be best enjoyed by sharing. —Shelf Awareness The [...] first-person narrative relates events in lively, descriptive prose, with humorous touches, depicted in vibrantly detailed, animated illustrations [...] —Booklist A compelling story of generosity in a delightful, cacophonous setting, this deftly told story introduces how a single choice improves the future. Children will pore over this one. —School Library JournalAuYeung's expressive digital illustrations depict Hong Kong's Tai Yuen Street and its people with lively details that lighten the tone. —Horn Book
JUV023000 - Juvenile Fiction | Lifestyles | City & Town Life
JUV016030 - Juvenile Fiction | Historical | Asia
JUV050000 - Juvenile Fiction | Cooking & Food
Strangers
Compassion
Hong Kong
