School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2--Danbi, an immigrant from Korea, is feeling anxious on her first day of school in America. Her heart pounds as she enters the classroom. Everyone stares at her. Even though many of the class activities and games are new, she participates as best as she can. During lunchtime, kids are curious about how to use her chopsticks, so she shows them and then leads them on a musical parade around the school. Kim, a debut author, has created detailed illustrations in soft colors, highlighting Danbi's fears and then the brighter spots in a brand new setting. VERDICT A sweet and helpful book for children who are nervous about moving or starting a new school--or any big change.--Noureen Qadir-Jafar, Syosset Lib., NY
Publisher's Weekly Review
Introducing an ingenuous girl who has just moved from South Korea to the U.S. with her parents, Kim's debut radiates positivity, inclusivity, and hope. Danbi bravely enters her classroom on the first day at her new school to encounter a gaggle of staring, curious kids who speak a different language than she does. Though Danbi initially feels excluded when she tries unsuccessfully to join in new activities, her mood soon brightens. When it's time to open their lunches, Danbi thinks, "That, I knew how to do!" and she shares her meal ("Yams in honey, crystal dumplings," and more) with her impressed classmates, offering a chopsticks lesson that erupts--joyously--into cacophonous, makeshift music-making and a playground parade. South Korean--born Kim (who, like her heroine, emigrated to the U.S. as a child) offers upbeat illustrations of the children in action, which magnify the story's high spirits--and Danbi's triumph. Ages 3--7. (July)
Kirkus Review
All together now: Food, dance, and music combine for magic that transcends language barriers. The charming cover of this read-aloud captures the Korean protagonist in a commanding pose, balanced on tiptoes, ready to perform. Still, Danbi feels anxious: "On the first day of my new school in America, my heart beat: Boom. Boom." Her palpable turmoil builds as she tries unfamiliar activities, yet, by lunchtime, her nervous heartbeat evolves into drum rolls cueing Danbi's creative impulses. Her classmates' singular reaction to her traditional Korean lunch--"Wow!"--signals the transformative powers of Danbi's favorite foods, exquisitely presented in tiered containers: "Yams in honey, crystal dumplings…rainbow drops, and half-moon rice cakes dipped in sweet sesame!" Classmates' attempts to use chopsticks become comical antics; soon, Danbi is leading everyone through recess in spontaneous, triumphant pageantry. Enchanting illustrations dazzle--particularly through the diverse characters' hair and facial expressions that detail individuals' unique traits while celebrating the entire cohort. According to the author's note, the story is inspired by the creator's own "bicultural identity," and the endpapers encapsulate an immigrant child's journey: the poignant departure and the prosaic pleasures of new friends will resonate with readers of all ages. Imaginative, irreverent, improvisational fun in kindergarten: Danbi shares a burst of "sweet rain," complete with a rainbow. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
In this debut picture book, Danbi is excited for her first day of school in America. However, having just moved from Korea, the language barrier and strange classroom culture make her feel excluded. Her day improves at lunchtime when she impresses her classmates with her fancy foods and chopstick skills. The click-clack sound of the chopsticks spurs an all-class musical parade and leads to Danbi making a friend. The illustrations highlight Danbi's emotions by focusing color and detail on the characters and only hinting at the backgrounds with sketchy gray shapes on white. The story shows the loneliness this young girl feels when she has no one to play with. Although it is slightly incredible that Danbi's classmates are awed by her yams, dumplings, and rice cakes, their openness might encourage students to adopt a similar posture. Overall, the expressive illustrations and the joyful onomatopoeia of the text make this an enjoyable read-aloud and especially reassuring for a child starting at a new school.
