Reviews

A Big Mooncake for Little Star by Grace Lin

taylormadespines's review

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lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

4.5

roseleaf24's review

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5.0

After reading most of the Caldecott Award and Honor books, I still have a hard time telling what makes a picture book worthy. Not worth this book. Wow. The story is both everyday, ordinary life and mythic. The illustrations are stunning. I love the black and yellow contrast, which shows so much of the night sky. The facial expressions of this mother and daughter are perfect and so detailed. The way crumbs on Little Star's face become a trail of stars, and the little girl nibbling away night after night creates the passes if the moon, ties everything together so beautifully. I loved this book.

dwdillydally's review

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emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

The illustrations make this story shine. The girl's expressions are absolutely precocious, and mom's are too relatable. The use of the color black and negative space are *chef's kiss!* 

With that said, this feels like a very personal story to the author, but you're left wondering why it's personal. I wish there was an additional page or two explaining... something. It could expand on the science of moon phases, more details about the Moon Festival (an author note on the dust jacket flap only mentions "my favorite Asian holiday"), how/why folktales are created, or even a recipe for mooncakes. As this stands, it's a charming story that leaves grown-ups wanting more context.

in_and_out_of_the_stash's review

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3.0

Loved the black background of the illustrations; story not so much.

mnstucki's review

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4.0

So cute! A great fiction addition to a unit on the phases of the moon in any lower elementary classroom.

mbrandmaier's review

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5.0

Extremely adorable tale explaining the phases of the moon. After Star's mother has baked a big mooncake to hang on the sky, Star cannot resist taking a delicious nibble each night.

pacifickle's review

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5.0

Great example of a folk tale, modernized!

seregelda's review

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4.0

Cute and great pictures, but it doesmt account for the waxing of the moon! lol

annalisenak97's review

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5.0

Actually the cutest. I want a pair of Little Star's pajamas. An excellent and clever way to explain the phases of the moon!

ewg109's review

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5.0

One of my favorites of last year. Visually perfect with a truly charming tale.