Little Star and her Mama are such good bakers that Mama must remind Little Star to curb her appetite: "Can you remember not to touch this Big Mooncake until I tell you to?" Little Star's agreement lasts through teeth brushing, face washing and snuggling in bed. She even manages to fall asleep--but she can't stay asleep. Soon enough, she "[p]at pat pat"s her way to her first tiny nibble. Once begun, resistance is futile, and Little Star returns night after night for one more little nibble. The mooncake wanes--what will Mama say when she discovers nothing left but "a trail of twinkling crumbs"?
A Big Mooncake for Little Star is Grace Lin's first picture book since Thanking the Moon (2010). With each gorgeous spread set against the night sky, mother and daughter, garbed in matching golden-starred pajamas, cook, negotiate and enjoy each other. While noting her original story "doesn't have any roots in Chinese mythology," Lin nevertheless "imbues it with all the traits [she] associate[s] with the Moon Festival--quiet joy, love, and beauty," and creates a perfectly irresistible treat for parents and children of all ages. --Terry Hong, Smithsonian BookDragon