My Thoughts: Our Moon Festival highlights three different ways that Asian cultures celebrate an important holiday. Coinciding with harvest time (in the middle of Autumn) when the moon is at its brightest and fullest, the Moon Festival is second only to new year celebrations in importance. Through the eyes of three different families — one Chinese, one Japanese and one Vietnamese — readers experience the Moon Festival from a child’s viewpoint. From tasty foods to family gatherings, special decorations to personal traditions, this important holiday is expressed in colorful illustrations and emotive words.

When I was young, my favorite chapter book series was about cultures around the world. I was fascinated by the way other people lived and I still see that same curiosity in children today. Even in our global world, learning about new holidays from a child’s perspective is absorbing and a small way that we can promote understanding and compassion in our children. Our Moon Festival is one way that we can share cultural practices around the world. This would be a great book for classrooms and children’s libraries that want to offer creative narratives about different cultures.