DANBI LEADS THE SCHOOL PARADE

All together now: Food, dance, and music combine for magic that transcends language barriers.

The charming cover of this read-aloud captures the Korean protagonist in a commanding pose, balanced on tiptoes, ready to perform. Still, Danbi feels anxious: “On the first day of my new school in America, my heart beat: Boom. Boom.” Her palpable turmoil builds as she tries unfamiliar activities, yet, by lunchtime, her nervous heartbeat evolves into drum rolls cueing Danbi’s creative impulses. Her classmates’ singular reaction to her traditional Korean lunch—“Wow!”—signals the transformative powers of Danbi’s favorite foods, exquisitely presented in tiered containers: “Yams in honey, crystal dumplings…rainbow drops, and half-moon rice cakes dipped in sweet sesame!” Classmates’ attempts to use chopsticks become comical antics; soon, Danbi is leading everyone through recess in spontaneous, triumphant pageantry. Enchanting illustrations dazzle—particularly through the diverse characters’ hair and facial expressions that detail individuals’ unique traits while celebrating the entire cohort. According to the author’s note, the story is inspired by the creator’s own “bicultural identity,” and the endpapers encapsulate an immigrant child’s journey: the poignant departure and the prosaic pleasures of new friends will resonate with readers of all ages.

Imaginative, irreverent, improvisational fun in kindergarten: Danbi shares a burst of “sweet rain,” complete with a rainbow.