Book of the Month: A Big Mooncake for Little Star

Written & Illustrated by: Grace Lin

Recommended grades PreK - 3rd

A Big Mooncake for Little Star is a perfectly designed bedtime story to help foster a love of reading and storytelling for the youngest learners. When her mama tells Little Star that she cannot eat the delicious Mooncake they baked together, we learn that Little Star is not the best listener. Instead, her small and secret tastes of the Mooncake become a whimsical origin story for the phases of the moon. Written and illustrated by Grace Lin, a Taiwanese-American children's author, A Big Mooncake for Little Star is full of eye-catching images sure to draw lower elementary and Pre-K students into the easy-to-follow plot. A testament to its positive reception from audiences, the book received the 2019 Caldecott Honor. 

Grace Lin identifies herself as an advocate for diversity, especially in children’s literature. Her work beyond A Big Mooncake for Little Star explores themes of Asian heritage and culture, from Cantonese Dim Sum to a middle-grade series about the Chinese Zodiac. Lin’s picture books for elementary students and novels for middle-grade readers can both be wonderful additions to a reading list during Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. AAPI Heritage Month is observed in the United States every year during the month of May to highlight the influence and contributions of Asian-American individuals to US history and culture. 

A Big Mooncake for Little Star promises an imaginative narrative, comforting themes of family and cultural food, and eye-catching imagery on every page. Recommended for ages 4-8, picture books like this one can also be a great way for older children to engage in some reading practice by reading aloud to younger siblings or cousins. 

Sources: 

• https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/34362953 

• https://gracelin.com/about-grace/