Home in a Lunchbox

A touching immigrant story that hits the heart--and stomach. 

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)

Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

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.