Home in a Lunchbox

Jun, whom end papers reveal has recently moved from Hong Kong to an American suburb, stands at a bus stop one Monday, the translations of three words scrawled on one palm. Jun worries about responding to a peer's greeting, and as a week of typical school days ensues, Jun moves through a grayed-out world in which others' conversations are portrayed in scribbles. Memories of home, and images of lunch box contents, are rendered in elegant full-color illustrations alongside swirling hearts and emanata, suggesting feelings of comfort and love. And the following Monday, the lunch box provides a language-barrier-bridging pathway to friendship. In an exceptional debut, Mo deploys digital illustrations that expertly use selective coloring to depict an experience of finding common ground. A glossary of Cantonese words and diagram of Jun's lunch box concludes. Background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 4-8. (June)

Round-faced, endearing Jun is utterly expressive; her sadness upon returning home each day is especially palpable...A touching immigrant story that hits the heart—and stomach.  —Kirkus Reviews

With its spare text (most of which is speech-bubble dialogue), the story is primarily conveyed through Mo's sensitively drawn, sometimes paneled illustrations, which vividly depict Jun's emotional state. This debut picture book captures the immigrant experience, highlighting the impact of small gestures of kindness and celebrating the unifying power of food across cultures and languages. —Horn Book

Lushly illustrated but with carefully sparse text, Home in a Lunchbox is a sensitive and warm debut. This book is a reminder for grown-ups of how differences can bring us together, and a story for children about making friends, bad days, and the warmth and comfort food from home can bring. This story reminds us all how anyone can feel lonely, but small gestures can travel for miles. A beautiful book.—Erin E. Stead, illustrator of the Caldecott Medal-winning book A Sick Day for Amos McGee 

This lushly illustrated book takes readers on a journey of memory and hope, highlighting the power of food to build connections across language, space, and time.—Joanna Ho, New York Times bestselling author of Eyes That Kiss in the Corners