Two-List Thanksgiving

PreS-Gr 2–A Korean American girl helps her mom prepare for Thanksgiving dinner. They begin with grocery lists—one for the local market and one for the Korean market. Whan highlights both the differences and the universality between the two cultures. “‘Man alive!’ Grandpa gulps water after a bite of spicy kimchi. Harmuni tries the pumpkin pie. ‘Dal-da!’ It’s sweet!” The American grandfather who tried the kimchi is furrowing his brow, sticking out his tongue, and clutching a water glass, while the Korean grandmother trying the pumpkin pie is frozen in mid-bite, eyebrows raised, mouth turned down with a perplexed expression. The girl, especially, has a range of delightful expressions—diligently working in the kitchen, companionably shopping with Mom, joyfully greeting relatives, and playfully romping with cousins. All illustrations are in soft colors but pop with life. While the story text is small and computer-generated, hand-lettering adds interest and whimsy, as with the Korean market signs and the lists in the young girl’s printing that are replete with humorous additions, such as a frowny face next to the entry for scallions, misspellings, rudimentary Korean characters, and a smiling shrimp next to pajeon. Back matter includes recipes for japchae and stuffing and a small glossary.