A Big Mooncake for Little Star By Grace Lin

 

About Book

Title: A Big Mooncake for Little Star
Author & Illustrator: Grace Lin
Genre: Fiction
Major Book Awards: 2019 Caldecott Medal
Recommended Age Range: 4 to 8
Appropriate Grade Levels: Pre-k to 3rd grade

Summary

This book written and illustrated by Grace Lin talks about a mother who baked a big mooncake for her daughter named Little Star. Little Star's mom warned her not to touch it until she tells her to. But on the first night, all Little Star could think of was the big mooncake and so she went and took a teeny bite. Thinking her mother wouldn't notice, Little Star continues to take a nibble of the cake each passing night. Until one night, her mom went to look for the mooncake but it was all gone. Mama asked if she ate the cake and Little Star said yes. And so, at the end of the story Little Star and her mom baked another one together. 

Evaluation - Would I Incorporate this book in the classroom?

This was a very cute book between a mom and her daughter. This book was pretty unique, incorporating the giant mooncake as a moon in space. I also liked the colors black and yellow being used throughout the book for the illustrations. I do see myself reading this book in my classroom and think it is appropriate for grade levels Pre-k to 3rd grade. For students in Pre-k to 1st grade, we can read this book during Mother's Day week and students can write a letter to the women in their lives. Another fun activity they can do is cut out phases of the moon and put them in order by gluing them on to strings. For students in 2nd and 3rd grade, I will for sure use this book in a space unit, specifically a lesson about the moon. They can also do the same activities with the strings as well including  a sequence activity of practicing with a partner to put the moon phases in the correct order. For a fun discussion to end the lesson, students can also share a food or snack from their culture.