A charming holiday tale of a child honoring tradition while marching to the beat of his own drummer.
During Tết Trung Thu, a young boy of Vietnamese descent finds a way to honor the legend behind the celebration.
Huy is beyond excited. He’s been waiting for the Mid-Autumn Festival—also known as the Moon Festival—all year. But he wonders: “If the festival is for the moon, why are all the lanterns in the shapes of stars?” So he goes to his Ba (father) for answers. As the two make a lantern together for an upcoming competition—a tradition that reminds Ba of making lanterns with his own father back in Vietnam—Ba reminds Huy of the folktale of Chú Cuội, a woodcutter who floated all the way to the moon. During Tết Trung Thu, children create star lanterns to help him make his way back home. Huy is determined to make a lantern honoring the moon. When it comes time for the contest, Huy realizes that indeed, he has the only moon-themed lantern, and as the others display theirs, a sudden gust of wind blows out everyone’s lights—except Huy’s. He in turn takes the opportunity to relight everyone’s lantern while explaining the meaning behind his design, eventually winning the contest. Vietnamese words and rituals are deftly interwoven throughout Dinh’s straightforward, concise narrative, complemented by the cozy cartoons, illuminated with bold colors and textured with lines and shadow.
A charming holiday tale of a child honoring tradition while marching to the beat of his own drummer. (author’s note, glossary) (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Sept. 4, 2025
ISBN: 9780807510728
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Whitman
Review Posted Online: Aug. 29, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
Thoughtful and joyful.
A child of Vietnamese descent fantasizes about the perfect outfit for Tết.
One night, Mai dreams about being a big “STAAAAAAR” and fielding questions on the red carpet. Mai’s literal dream dress is a sparkly silver ballroom gown with a sweetheart cut. After waking up, the child is eager to tell Ba all about it, but first it’s time to get ready. It’s the first day of Tết, or Lunar New Year, and the family plans to celebrate at Mai’s grandmother’s house. Though Mai loves visiting Bà Nội, the child balks at donning the áo dài, a Vietnamese outfit consisting of a tunic worn over trousers. “Stars wear dresses and gowns,” Mai tells Ba. But Ba shows Mai the family photo album, explaining that Bà Nội had her own sewing school in Vietnam and that her students lovingly dubbed her the “Queen of Áo Dài.” To keep their traditions alive when the family emigrated, Bà Nội continued to make áo dài for her loved ones, and the children learned to sew them as an expression of love. Finally, with a newfound appreciation for the garment, Mai greets Bà Nội with a hug, clad in a customized áo dài made by Ba. Told entirely through naturally expressed and well-paced dialogue and accompanied by vividly textured illustrations, this is a loving tale of a family finding a creative way to reshape a beloved tradition.
Thoughtful and joyful. (glossary, “let’s design our own áo dài” activity) (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2025
ISBN: 9781665917346
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Caitlyn Dlouhy/Atheneum
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience.
The How to Catch A… crew try for Comet.
Having already failed to nab a Halloween witch, the Easter Bunny, a turkey, a leprechaun, the Tooth Fairy, and over a dozen other iconic trophies in previous episodes of this bestselling series, one would think the racially diverse gaggle of children in Elkerton’s moonlit, wintry scenes would be flagging…but no, here they lay out snares ranging from a loop of garland to an igloo baited with reindeer moss to an enticing candy cane maze, all in hopes of snagging one of Santa’s reindeer while he’s busy delivering presents. Infused with pop culture–based Christmas cheer (“Now I’ve already seen the shelf with the elf”), Comet prances past the traps until it’s time to gather up the kids, most of whom look terrified, for a group snapshot with the other reindeer and then climb back into harness: “This was a great stop but a few million to go / Christmas Eve must continue with style!” Though festive, the verse feels trite and unlikely to entice youngsters. A sprinkling of “True Facts About Reindeer” (“They live in the tundra, where they have friends like the arctic bunny”) wrap up this celebration of the predatory spirit. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2022
ISBN: 9781728276137
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Dec. 12, 2022
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