RABBIT MOONCAKES

Krakauer debuts with a warm-hearted re-creation of a celebration in what could be her own Chinese-American family. Hoong Yee and Hoong Wei are looking forward to the crowd of relatives who will be at their comfortable home for the Harvest Moon Festival—but not to performing for them on the piano. Hoong Wei, especially, dreads the laughter she's sure will greet her inevitable mistakes. But at the event, Auntie Sum's singing, which is even worse, gives them courage, and when Hoong Wei's fingers do slip Mama covers the error by singing louder; the girls get only praise (and delicious mooncakes) for their efforts. Cultural details are nicely integrated into the straightforward narrative and extended by the author's lively, freely drawn illustrations. Note; glossary of 19 Chinese words and phrases that are also defined in context. (Picture book. 4-8)