Henry's First-Moon Birthday

Jenny's baby brother Henry is having his one-month birthday — his first-moon, as it's called in Chinese. And even though Jenny's sure he doesn't deserve it — all Henry does is sleep, eat, and cry — there's a big celebration planned for him. Together, Jenny and her grandma get everything ready, from dyeing eggs a lucky red to preparing pigs' feet and ginger soup. And someday, when Henry's old enough to appreciate all her hard work, Jenny will tell him how lucky he was to have her in charge.

The childlike charm of Lenore Look's story is perfectly captured in Yumi Heo's naïve illustrations, which give readers the impression that Jenny drew them herself.

A young girl helps her grandmother with preparations for the traditional Chinese celebration to welcome her new baby brother.

Jenny's baby brother Henry is having his one-month birthday — his first-moon, as it's called in Chinese. And even though Jenny's sure he doesn't deserve it — all Henry does is sleep, eat, and cry — there's a big celebration planned for him. Together, Jenny and her grandma get everything ready, from dyeing eggs a lucky red to preparing pigs' feet and ginger soup. And someday, when Henry's old enough to appreciate all her hard work, Jenny will tell him how lucky he was to have her in charge.

The childlike charm of Lenore Look's story is perfectly captured in Yumi Heo's naïve illustrations, which give readers the impression that Jenny drew them herself.

Publishers Weekly

Look's (Love as Strong as Ginger) buoyant picture book invites readers to peek at a Chinese-American family's preparations for a very special party. Older Sister (aka "Jen, Jenny, but never Jennifer"), who professes to be the lady of the house, rises early with GninGnin ("never Grandmother or Granny or Grandma") to get ready for brother Henry's first-moon, or one-month birthday. While the rest of the family sleeps, GninGnin and Jen bustle about cooking traditional Chinese dishes (pigs' feet and ginger soup, eggs dyed a lucky red) and writing good-luck messages in "ink, the real stuff, which GninGnin makes by rubbing an ink pebble with a little water." Soon, Mother joins the team and "cleans like a tornado going through every room." At last, GninGnin and Jen put on their favorite dresses and celebrate with visiting relatives. Jen is an entertaining narrator, a plucky helper filled with a refreshing confidence in her important role in the family. Through her eyes and her childlike, evocative descriptions readers learn more about Chinese culture as well as enjoy a warm, gently humorous story with universal themes. Heo (Yoshi's Feast) matches Jen's perky wit with her whimsical perspectives and energetic pencil-oil-collage compositions. Characters with smiling faces and happy eyes that "look like commas" and tender scenes between family members convey joy on every page. Ages 4-8. (Apr.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Lenore Look is the author of the Ruby Lu chapter book series. Both received starred reviews in School Library Journal and were named ALA Notable Books. She is also the author of several acclaimed picture books and lives in Randolph, New Jersey.

LeUyen Pham is the acclaimed author and illustrator of Big Sister, Little Sister and the illustrator of many titles, including Freckleface Strawberry by Julianne Moore. She lives in San Francisco, California.