  | Two-list Thanksgiving Author: Whan, Christine | |
| Price: $23.98 | ||
Summary:
What does Thanksgiving dinner look like when both sides of the family come together? When it's time to shop for ingredients, a girl makes two lists--one for the local market and one for the Korean market! Thanksgiving Day is full of food and family, football and conversation, and of course, giving thanks. By the end of the meal, she has a newfound love for her family's two distinct cultures.
| Illustrator: | Kim, Sienna Youngsun |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (10/01/25)
School Library Journal (06/27/25)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 06/27/2025 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. VERDICT A must-have for libraries serving Korean American communities, and a heartfelt addition to any library seeking to broaden its Thanksgiving collection.—Lisa Taylor - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
