Vendor
	Mohrbooks Literary Agency Sebastian Ritscher
Original language
English
Categories
Children’s picture books
Weblink
www.cherrymo.com

HOME IN A LUNCHBOX

Cherry Mo

Cherry Mo's stunning debut is about a young girl who immigrates to a new country and finds home in an unexpected place.

When Jun moves from Hong Kong to America, the only words she knows are hello, thank you, I don't know, and toilet. Her new school feels foreign and terrifying.

But when she opens her lunchbox to find her favorite meals - like bao, dumplings, and bok choy - she realizes home isn't so far away after all.

Through lush art and spare dialogue, Cherry Mo's breathtakingly beautiful debut picture book reminds readers that friendship and belonging can be found in every bite.

Cherry Mo grew up in Hong Kong and moved to the United States at the age of ten. Home in a Lunchbox is her debut picture book and was inspired by her first days of school in America. Cherry writes and illustrates stories that she hopes bring young readers a sense of comfort and belonging. See more of her work on www.cherrymo.com, or on Twitter and Instagram @hellocherrymo.

Available products
Book Published 2024-06-11 by Penguin Workshop
Book Published 2024-06-11 by Penguin Workshop

Comments

Memories of home, and images of lunch box contents, are rendered in elegant full-color illustrations alongside swirling hearts and emanata, suggesting feelings of comfort and love. And the following Monday, the lunch box provides a language-barrier-bridging pathway to friendship. In an exceptional debut, Mo deploys digital illustrations that expertly use selective coloring to depict an experience of finding common ground.

215 Cherry Mo, Children's Book Author and Illustrator Read more...

[T]he story is primarily conveyed through Mo's sensitively drawn, sometimes paneled illustrations, which vividly depict Jun's emotional state. Warm colors represent her cherished memories of home and the eventual feeling of belonging; cool tones mirror her initial fear and anxiety. This debut picture book captures the immigrant experience, highlighting the impact of small gestures of kindness and celebrating the unifying power of food across cultures and languages.

Borrowing from graphic novels, panel illustrations with speech bubbles adeptly show Jun's attempts at speaking to classmates. Full-page illustrations with muted colors coupled with excellent and detailed facial expressions... Inspired by Mo's move from Hong Kong to the United States at the age of 10, this remarkable story about finding comfort in a new home by bringing along familiar traditions is a must-purchase for picture book collections and will resonate with any child who has struggled to fit in.

Read more...

[T]he narrative charts its protagonist's emotional state through color, composition, body language, and visual detail. Round-faced, endearing Jun is utterly expressive; her sadness upon returning home each day is especially palpable. Jun's community is a diverse one. A touching immigrant story that hits the heart - and stomach.