Published by Little, Brown and Company
Summary: When Little Star’s mama hangs the big mooncake in the sky to cool, she reminds her daughter how long it took to make, and that she shouldn’t touch it. Little Star agrees, but when she wakes up in the middle of the night, the mooncake is all she can think about. She nibbles just a tiny bit, then hurries back to bed. Night after night, she eats a little until gradually the shape changes from perfect circle to half a circle to a crescent. And then one night, when Mama comes looking for the mooncake, all she finds is a pile of crumbs. Is she mad? Of course not…she and Little Star head off to make a new cake. An author’s note on the back flap of the cover explains how she was inspired by the Asian Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. 32 pages; ages 4-8.
Pros: A perfect introduction to the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival (which is September 24 this year, in case you were wondering), as well as a loving parent-child portrayal, and a nice bedtime story. Although it’s an original story, it has the feel of a folktale.
Cons: The author’s note gives important information about the story; placing it on the book cover makes it easy to miss.