Rutabaga's Reads 2025: Part 14

Welcome to 2025’s “Happy Hodgepodge” post! This is the first of what I hope will be two Hodgepodge posts this year, despite the fact that it’s already September. What are you currently reading?

Cat & Cat Adventures: The Staff of Knowledge (July 23, 2024) by Susie Yi.

Junior fiction graphic novel.

<This is the fourth graphic novel in a series.>

The cats of the Spirit Task Force, Squash and Ginny, are preparing for another mission when Magnus, Lotus and Fern arrive. Magnus informs them that the Staff of Knowledge, once hidden in the Starry Sea, is now in the Human World. When Squash tries to celebrate finding it, the three orbs scatter, and the Spirit World starts leaking into the Human World. “The surge of magic has ripped the fabric between them.” It’s a disaster. They trace the first orb to the dreaded vet clinic. They’re not the only ones trying to obtain the orb. There’s a troublesome kangaroo rat, and there are helpful crows called Kee and Caw. What is their connection to the Staff of Knowledge? Hijinks are sure to ensue, though a sea of buttery popcorn from the fabled Popcorn Island probably isn’t so bad.

            Fans of cats and lovers of cuteness will want to soak up this Cat & Cat adventure if they haven’t already. The lesson is understanding that it’s okay to ask for help, that even when you think it’s your fault something happened doesn’t mean you need to rectify it all on your own. The bright, colorful illustrations and adorably drawn characters delightfully complement the sparse writing. It’s an entertaining, hijinks-filled adventure for emerging readers and those readers who are young-at-heart looking for something quick and enjoyable to read.

            Book 1: The Quest for Snacks

            Book 2: The Goblet of Infinity

            Book 3: Journey into Unibear City

Earl & Worm: The Bad Idea and Other Stories (Apr. 1, 2025) by Greg Pizzoli.

Early-Reader fiction chapter book.

<This is the first book in a series.>

In this collection of three stories, Earl and Worm are best friends, but their start is rocky, as highlighted in Lemonade. Earl is a happy-go-lucky early-bird who enjoys music and talking. Meanwhile, Worm is cranky and doesn’t like new things. When The Bad Idea comes around, Earl and Worm are solid friends, but the unexpected happens when a “very, very sneaky” idea becomes a bad idea and a lesson is also learned. And in The Poem, Earl and Worm are longtime friends. Worm is trying to come up with the perfect finish to her poem, which she thinks should rhyme. When Earl’s suggestions aren’t as helpful as Worm wishes, she storms off. But what if perfection isn’t in the rhyming, but in telling the truth?

            Watching their friendship grow and unfold is like watching flowers bloom on a sunny day. The humor is dry but sweet and the stories for early readers simple but entertaining. The text is good for read-alouds, and the illustrations are colorful and friendly. These stories showcase the ups and downs of friendship while managing to be delightful and emphasize that seeming opposites can not only coexist but be strong friends and learn from one another. What a charming early reader debut from Pizzoli!

Mindy Kim and the Fun Family Vacation (Apr. 29, 2025) by Lyla Lee.

   Dung Ho, illustrator.

Junior fiction chapter book.

<This is the twelfth and final book in a series.>

Adventure is set to begin. Mindy and her family are in Korea, and it’s baby Charlie’s first international trip. Mindy’s most excited to visit Jeju Island, as it’s her first trip there, but the journey is off to a bumpy start. First, Charlie won’t stop crying on the plane, then it’s pouring rain. She wants to visit Hallasan (Mount Halla in English), Korea’s biggest mountain, and meet haenyeo, Jeju Island’s female free divers. (Some haenyeo can dive up to 60 feet deep without any equipment!) Jeju is so fascinating. Once its own country, locals speak the Jeju dialect, which is similar to Korean (e.g. harabeoji is grandfather in Korean and hareubang is grandfather in Jeju-mal). Jeju also has guardian statues made of volcanic rock, also referred to as hareubang. Mindy’s first visit to Jeju Island is set to be memorable, but will it be for the wrong reasons?

            The final chapter book in the Mindy Kim series ends how it should. The story looks like it’s swiveling toward in-the-eyes-of-a-child disaster before its tidy, positive wrap-up. This series has been a delight to read and meaningful to me, a Korean American (though I’m an adoptee with no connection to either birth parent). It’s realistic fiction for a youthful audience, engaging and absorbing, but easily accessible, and it may introduce some readers to another culture. It’s a valuable series highlighting family, culture, diversity and life lessons.

Mindy Kim Books 1-5: A compilation post

Mindy Kim Book 6: Mindy Kim and the Big Pizza Challenge

Mindy Kim Book 7: Mindy Kim and the Fairy-Tale Wedding

Mindy Kim Books 8-10: A compilation post

            Mindy Kim Book 11: Mindy Kim, Big Sister

One Drop (Mar. 11, 2025) by Kaitlin Sikes.

   Mel Cerri, illustrator.

Children’s picture book.

Zing! Zap! Plop! One drop of water waits to make its journey from cloud to aquifer, tributary to lake, eventually making it to the Atlantic Ocean. This one drop passes by an iceberg, rushes over an underwater waterfall and takes a turn into a mud castle moat. One day, the one drop “evaporates up, up, up into the clouds, where it waits…” What happens next?

            This adorable picture book is a visually dynamic story. Cerri’s illustrations are simple yet bold and vibrant. Despite the confines of a storybook, the art manages to feel expansive, the one drop’s enthusiasm evident as it traverses the world. I also really enjoy Cerri’s lettering art. Sikes’ prose is easy to follow along with, while encouraging young readers to understand terms like aquifer and estuary. There is educational backmatter to provide additional facts.

What Is the Story of Cinderella? (Feb. 4, 2025) by Dana Meachen Rau.

   David Malan, illustrator.

Early-Reader nonfiction chapter book.

<This is an official Who HQ book.>

Most know the story of Cinderella or Disney’s version of it, which is inspired by Charles Perrault’s famous version. The pumpkin carriage, the animals transformed into footmen, a fairy godmother and twinkling glass slippers. But do you know Rhodopis, Ye Xian or Zezolla? The variations of Cinderella stories over millennia is varied, but they all involve lost footwear. Multiple versions highlight kindness in spite of hardship and harsh treatment. Others are more “Grimm” and definitely involve bloody messes. The best-known versions are mentioned alongside lesser-known ones. There’s also a chapter dedicated to those actresses (and an actor) who have brought Cinderella to life from stage to screen.

            One of the many writers of Who HQ stories brings to the page one of the most well-known Disney princesses and her literary origins that began long before her animated film debut. The slim, early-reader nonfiction volume is informative yet dazzling and entertains across cultures and continents. Cinderella’s story – no matter the version or the original language – is there to charm and to inspire. It’s also for dreamers (singing A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes) and those who “keep building up impossible hopes.” I don’t need a prince, but I wouldn’t say no to attending a ball!

Rutabaga's Reads 2024: Part 6

It surprises me, too, that I have enough for a third chapter books compilation. While it’s true that they read very quickly, I don’t typically focus on them like I have this year.

Astrid & Apollo and the Happy New Year (Aug. 1, 2020) by V.T. Bidania.

   Dara Lashia Lee, illustrator.

<This is part of an unnumbered series of books.>

Twins Astrid and Apollo are excited to attend the Hmong New Year Festival in their home state of Minnesota. The celebration, complete with entertainment and vendors selling food and gifts/souvenirs, is noisy and crowded. When they let dancers pass in front of them, they lose their parents and Eliana, their little sister, but they find a lost little boy and help him to find his family. They may have to approach one of the stages and ask the host to announce that they’re lost, even if it means being mistaken for performers in their special Hmong New Year attire.

            This story showcases that the wonderful cultures and traditions of others can be found right here in the U.S., and Lee’s illustrations are vibrant and expressive. The story and pictures have me wanting to attend a Hmong festival to experience new things, eat new foods and learn! Emergent readers will likely need help with the Hmong words, but there is a helpful glossary of those words before the first chapter begins. This is another delightful story from the Astrid & Apollo series.

Escaping the Fire (Aug. 1, 2019) by Emma Bland Smith.

   Mirelle Ortega, illustrator.

<This is the first book in a series.>

With his parents taking a sabbatical year, Gavin McNally’s family is taking the year to travel around the country in an RV. Gavin has four goals to accomplish as set by his teacher. (1) Change someone’s life; (2) Get to know a family member better; (3) Be a friend to nature; (4) Seek treasure. This annoys him, because who likes homework? Chloe probably does. His older sister. The family thinks they’re settled in for the night at a California campground when Gavin notices smoke and the red glow of fire. Haste is a must to reach safety, but Gavin strays from his family when he hears a dog. Her owner isn’t home. Rescuing the dog is a no-brainer, but how will they escape the fire?

            I flew through this first in the Gavin McNally’s Year Off series. It is a hi-lo book (high-interest, low readability), meaning it’s designed to engage struggling readers. It’s a chapter book, in which there is mostly prose with illustrations, but it features simple sentence structure, controlled vocabulary, a lower page count and very short chapters. The theme is potentially complex and the story age-appropriate, but the reading level is lower. This would be a good option for emergent chapter book readers who are, perhaps, hesitant in their reading abilities.

Mindy Kim, Big Sister (Aug. 6, 2024) by Lyla Lee.

   Dung Ho, illustrator.

<This is the eleventh book in a series.>

There’s a pint-sized addition in the Kim family, and it’s Mindy’s newborn brother, Min-jae Wei. His American nickname is going to be Charlie, because her stepmom (Julie) thinks it’s cute. Mindy’s Korean name is Min-jung, and in Korean culture, it’s common for siblings to have similar names. Mindy’s worried about being a good big sister, for she’s never been a big sister before. When sleepless nights take a toll on all of them – even Theodore, the puppy – Mindy’s determined to find a way to help her dad and Julie get some much-needed rest.

            As if Lee’s Mindy Kim stories didn’t already bubble over with cuteness, she added an adorable addition to the family. She also focused on the harder parts of having a newborn, like those sleepless nights affecting all members of a household, but she tells it in a way that’s easy to understand and thus is an accessible story for young chapter book readers. The story shines with authenticity, and Ho’s accompanying illustrations continue to be top-notch complements to Lee’s word pictures.

Rutabaga's Reads 2024: Part 1

Here marks my first chapter books compilation of 2024. It features three books from the same series. If interested, I’ve attached links to the previous posts at the end of the eighth novel’s write-up.

Mindy Kim Makes a Splash! (July 5, 2022) by Lyla Lee.

   Dung Ho, illustrator.

<This is the eighth novel in a series.>

Swimming in P.E. class. What fun! Or it would be, if Mindy Kim knew how to swim. She’s never taken swimming lessons and thinks she’s too old as a nine-year-old in a class with six-year-olds. But Mindy is determined to learn so she can:

                        “1. SWIM WITHOUT FLOATIES

                          2. LEARN TO SNORKEL

                          3. MAKE FRIENDS WITH MANATEES AND DOLPHINS.”

She’s also been challenged by Brandon, the meanest kid in her class, to a swim race. The bully’s challenge will push her to learn quickly, but will it be enough? Will she splash to success or find a belly flop in her wake?

            It’s another delightful tale from Lee with complementing illustrations from Ho. While I love that this series features a main character who is, specifically, Korean, it’s a wonderful series for any chapter book readers, including emergent readers. The text is mostly simple, though adults may need to be on hand for occasional words like harrumphed. Lee’s Mindy Kim series puts a little more positivity into this world, and as long as she keeps writing them, I’ll keep reading them!

            Mindy Kim Books 1-5: A compilation post

            Mindy Kim Book 6: Mindy Kim and the Big Pizza Challenge

            Mindy Kim Book 7: Mindy Kim and the Fairy Tale Wedding

Mindy Kim and the Summer Musical (July 4, 2023) by Lyla Lee.

   Dung Ho, illustrator.

<This is the ninth novel in a series.>

Auditioning for the community theater’s summer musical, Cinderella, is new and nerve-racking, but it helps that her friends, Sally and Lindsey, are auditioning, too. She remembers the lyrics of her chosen song, and Ms. Maria Kamper, children’s musical director at Sunshine County Community Theater, laughs when Mindy reads lines for both Cinderella and an evil stepsister. Mindy really wants to be Cinderella, and she’s horrified when she’s cast as stepsister. She worries that being cast as an evil stepsister means that Ms. Kamper noticed meanness in her during her audition, which means she might not be a good, big sister in the future. With her dad’s reassurances that she doesn’t look like a bad kid and that the stepsisters’ roles are the comic relief, Mindy’s ready to “make the best of being an evil stepsister” by being funny.

            Lee’s writing is so naturally inclusive of all ethnicities, and they’re fun to read. They’re also relatable for the age; Mindy and her friends have recently finished 3^rd Grade in this installment. Being cast as an “evil” character may sound dramatic to Mindy when we as adults know the evil stepsisters are actually comedic in the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. She and the cast must also deal with a bully. The story is delightful and resonates with realness.

Mindy Kim and the Mid-Autumn Festival (Sept. 26, 2023) by Lyla Lee.

   Dung Ho, illustrator.

<This is the tenth book in a series.>

After Mindy’s harabeoji (grandfather) passes away, Mindy, Dad and Julie travel to Korea to be with her dad’s family for the funeral. Korea’s annual, traditional mid-autumn festival – Chuseok – falls during their visit. Chuseok focuses on honoring one’s ancestors. Mindy is excited to participate in this celebration, which she’s never experienced in Korea. They’re gathered in Korea for a sad reason, but Mindy wants to figure out a way to celebrate her late grandpa. Will it be in eating his favorite kind of fish (cod)? Or setting out his favored fruit (apples)?

            I think it’d be an adventure participating in Chuseok in Korea. While one might call it Korea’s Thanksgiving, it isn’t like our American Thanksgiving, though there is also a lot of food involved. I love that, with this book, Lee is introducing a traditional festival that many may be unfamiliar with. I would’ve gobbled up these stories if they’d been present when I was a child and am happy to consume them as an adult. The story is uncomplicated, but still deals in life lessons (coping with the death of a loved one) and has a cultural theme. This 10th story is as adorable as the first nine.

Rutabaga's Reads 2022: Part 22

This was meant to be a compilation post, but I never got around to reading enough chapter books to compile a second compilation post. The year has almost gotten away from me, so I’m posting this solo chapter book.

Mindy Kim and the Fairy-Tale Wedding (Apr. 5, 2022) by Lyla Lee.

   Dung Ho, illustrator.

*This is the seventh book in a series.*

Talk about the event of the year! Mindy Kim (Korean name: Min-jung) is about to attend her first wedding, and not only is she in it as the flower girl, it’s her dad and Julie that are getting married. Her dad’s relatives have flown into Florida from South Korea, including her school-age cousins, Sung-jin and Sora, while Julie’s family has flown in from New York and China. Mindy wants the day to be perfect, but a perfect day might not be in the picture. There’s rain in the forecast, and the wedding is planned to be outdoors with the ocean as the backdrop. Meanwhile, Theodore the Mutt, whom Mindy is determined will be the ring-bearer, completely misbehaves at the rehearsal. This fairy tale looks like it might be a fairy-FAIL.

            As long as this series continues, I will be one of its readers, because I love that this series features a Korean American character. I don’t care that this is a chapter book; what I care about is that there is representation of a young girl who looks like me, and I know I would’ve loved seeing a series like this when I was young. This is another sweet and fast-reading addition to the Mindy Kim series. It resonates with youthful vibrancy and blends cultures, as Mindy and her dad’s Korean American side joins Julie's Chinese American side. The wedding includes a Chinese tea ceremony, a western ceremony (in which Julie wears a white gown), and a Korean ceremony or paebaek (where they don their hanboks).

            Mindy Kim Books 1-5: A compilation post

            Mindy Kim Book 6: Mindy Kim and the Big Pizza Challenge

Rutabaga's Reads 2022: Part 4

I haven’t designated any posts solely to chapter books in the most recent years, and this is already the second one (the first featuring the first five books in the Mindy Kim series). Remember that chapter books do contain occasional pictures through the story, though the story is told primarily through prose.

A Royal Rescue (May 8, 2018) by Helen Perelman.

   Olivia Chin Mueller, illustrator.

*This is the first book in a series.*

No one wants to be late to one’s first day at the Royal Fairy Academy. Certainly not Princess Mini, royal fairy princess of Candy Kingdom, but she notices someone in trouble and stops to help. Gobo, a troll, is stuck in a caramel thornbush. A sticky place to be stuck, to be sure, but nothing a drop of icing can’t fix. Will Princess Mini still make it to school on-time? Can she keep Gobo a secret from her less-than-sweet-and-more-like-sour twin cousins, Prince Frosting and Princess Cupcake?

            My impression in the QUIX Royal Sweets series is that this story is delightfully sweet and deliciously simple. With a straightforward, easy-to-follow plot, young readers new to chapter books will confidently follow the storyline and appreciate characters with familiar words-as-names like Lady Cherry (a teacher), Princess Taffy (Princess Mini’s best friend) and Butterscotch (Princess Mini’s royal flying unicorn). For young readers who like fairies and candy-coated kingdoms, sweet royals and sour, this little tale is as cute as a display of petit fours and as tasty as your favorite treat.

Athena & the Magic Land (May 14, 2019) by Joan Holub & Suzanne Williams.

   Yuyi Chen, illustrator.

*This is the first book in a series.*

When one thinks of Athena, one thinks of the Greek goddess of wisdom. Well, this Athena isn’t her. At least, she isn’t yet, and has no idea why she’s traveled to a magic land (it’s Mount Olympus) via a strong, sparkly wind. It’s here that her dog, Oliver, from the Happy Perky Pets game is real, and she knows another young girl named Medusa. But how is she on Mount Olympus, and how does she have snakes for hair and the power to turn other people and creatures to stone? Athena meets Hestia and Persephone, the latter of whom is convinced that she only has bad luck, and is told by three colorful owls (the Owlies) that she will find Zeus in Sparkle City on the top of Mount Olympus if she follows the Hello Brick Road, but she must not stray off of it. With the help of new friends – and a pair of winged sandals – Athena must find Zeus if she wants to return home. She also needs to keep those sandals away from “meanie Medusa.”

            This QUIX Little Goddess Girls series starter is one part Greek mythology, one part The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and all parts cutesy. Unlike Athena, I wasn’t carried away to a magical land when I read this, but perhaps that is not fair, as I’m nowhere near 5-8 years old. While I think the blending of mythology and Oz is unique and certainly has its fun merits (e.g. Hello Brick Road instead of the familiar Yellow Brick Road), the plot likely won’t captivate older, more advanced chapter book readers. I do hope that it will win over readers who are new to chapter books who may be prompted to ask more questions about Greek mythology (or mythology in general, as the world is plentiful with world mythologies if only we seek them out). The lettering is large with black-and-white illustrations, and despite me not loving the tale, it radiates magical sunshine and puppy-dog-eyes cuteness.

The Lost Stone (Apr. 1, 2014) by Jordan Quinn.

   Robert McPhillips, illustrator.

*This is the first book in a series.*

Every child needs a friend. Prince Lucas, son of Queen Tasha and King Caleb of The Kingdom of Wrenly, has none. It’s lonely for eight-year-old Lucas. His father has forbidden him to play with the village children, because “a proper prince does not play with village children.” When his mother’s prized emerald goes missing, Lucas takes it upon himself to retrieve it. He’s allowed to re-befriend Clara Gills, daughter of Queen Tasha’s personal dressmaker, and together, the two of them re-trace the queen’s route to try to track the emerald. They visit Primlox (ruled by fairies) and talk to Queen Sophie, then sail to Burth (which belongs to the trolls). On their way to Hobsgrove (the island of wizards), they pass by Crestwood (where dragons roam). But the emerald is nowhere to be found on land. Might the mermaids know something?

            What a charming tale this is (The Kingdom of Wrenly series)! It’s filled with black-and-white illustrations against a medieval setting that has a sprinkling of fantasy. The typeface is large, the structure, including the plot, are simple, and the language is basic, which is to be expected for the target audience (ages 5-9). The story reads quickly thanks to the adventurous nature of the tale, which should be encouraging to emergent readers.

Mindy Kim and the Big Pizza Challenge (Sept. 14, 2021) by Lyla Lee.

   Dung Ho, illustrator.

*This is the sixth book in a series.*

Wishbone Elementary’s eighth annual PTA Trivia Night has almost arrived, and Mindy is excited to participate with her dad, Brian, his girlfriend, Julie, and her best friend, Sally Johnson, and her family. Mindy’s dad knows it’s important to have fun and do their best, but Mindy wants to win. The grand prize is a year of free pizza! (By free, it’s one free pizza per month for a year.) But, sadly, she also wants to “prove” that they’re as good as any two-parent families. The trivia questions are sometimes trickier than she expects. Will Mindy and her teammates on Team Flamingo out-trivia the other teams? Will she realize that her family is just as awesome as any other, two parents or one, immigrant parents or none?

            Having read the first five books in this series, I expected this one to be cute, and I wasn’t disappointed. I don’t want parents or young readers to think that cute means that it lacks substance, for that is not the case. Like any young person approaching a competition, the stakes feel high, and stress is real. It’s compounded for Mindy, as her concerns feel heightened when she compares herself to other students in her class who have two parents, and none of those parents are immigrants like her dad (he grew up in Korea). It’s a short tale, a quick read, but it’s so important. I grew up adopted in America with Caucasian parents and so have never had this specific struggle, yet it still resonates, because I can imagine the challenge and the feelings through Lee’s prose. Also, I plain love the representation of a Korean main character.

            Mindy Kim Books 1-5: A compilation post

Snow Place Like Home (July 30, 2019) by Christina Soontornvat.

   Barbara Szepesi Szucs, illustrator.

*This is the first book in a series.*

It’s gotta be pretty cool being a princess, with a sweet dog named Gusty, who’s the daughter of a Windtamer mother (she has power to control the wind and weather) and a Groundling father (that is, he’s a regular human) and the granddaughter of the North Wind. Yes, the North Wind. Also known as Boreas. You know, a wind god. The expectation is that Lina is a Windtamer, too, but the reality is that she struggles to control the wind. Her granddad wants her to live with him, but she wants to attend Groundling school. No amount of mango-and-whipped-cloud pudding is going to convince her to live at her granddad’s palace in the sky. She concocts a plan with her best friend, Claudia, who’s a Groundling. Too bad that when she’s nervous or scared or happy, things accidentally happen … like icicles on the classroom ceiling or the boys’ bathroom turning into an ice rink. She can figure out a way to control it, right? If she only thinks warm thoughts, that’ll do the trick?

            Right off, this chapter book in the Diary of an Ice Princess series made me think: Tell me your characters are diverse without actually telling me they’re diverse. Thanks to the pictures strewn through the story, the reader can see the diversity, even though there’s never mention of any specific ethnicity, and I love that. It makes racial diversity a common, everyday thing, like it is and should be. Written as a diary, Lina figures out what it means to be her based on her skills, and it’s cotton-candy sweet, though without the sticky mess at the end. The book’s illustrations are color-coordinated; they’re black, white, gray and pink. Lina’s world is cute and magical, but relatable to anyone who’s ever attended Groundling school.

Rutabaga's Reads 2022: Part 2

While straightening books on a Sunday at my workplace library, I came across a set of books that caught my eye. The title character’s name is Mindy Kim, so I immediately wondered to myself if she’s Korean. Yes. It took me naught but a nanosecond to decide I needed to check out the books offered in the library right away. (But I waited to start the first book until I got home. While I love reading, I won’t abuse the time for which I’m being paid.)

            These stories are chapter books for intermediate readers with a level above picture books but not yet ready for middle-grade. According to the copyright page, the series’ target audience are readers ages 6-9.

            The series is by Lyla Lee. Dung Ho is the illustrator.

Mindy Kim and the Yummy Seaweed Business (Jan. 14, 2020).

Moving is hard. Being the only Asian (Korean) American in her new school makes it even harder for seven-and-a-half-year-old Mindy Kim (Korean name: Min-jung). On her first day of school, she declares that lunch is already her favorite subject, but her tune changes when her usual lunch of rice, kimchi, rolled eggs and dried seaweed snacks that she always ate in California don’t go over well with her classmates at Wishbone Elementary in Florida. When a new friend, Sally, asks to try a seaweed snack – “My mom always says I should try things out before I decide I don’t like them.” – interest amongst her other classmates is aroused, and they become so popular that she begins trading them for other snacks. Trading turns to selling them for money, which gets Mindy, Sally and a boy named Brandon in trouble. How can Mindy untangle this mess and resume her new friendship with Sally?

            Having spent all of my years within the same school district (Preschool – 12^th Grade), I’ve never had to be the “new kid,” but being the one who stands out based on her Asian appearance is something I understand greatly (even as an adult in all the workplaces I’ve been in). That the main character isn’t only Asian American, but specifically, Korean American, resonates with me, and her character’s perspective is valuable and needed in fiction literature (for any age). Yes, Mindy’s a kid who wants to make friends, fit in and get a puppy. But Mindy’s also a kid who’s known grief (her mom is deceased after a long illness) and notices her dad’s grief. She’s been exposed to micro-aggressions, but is clearly dearly loved by her dad (appa). Mindy’s voice is authentic for her age and the significance of weighty issues isn’t lessened by her age, nor made to sound beyond what a young person might construe about such weight. The illustrations are black-and-white, but complement the story to a T.

Mindy Kim and the Lunar New Year Parade (Jan. 14, 2020).

A new year means a new lunar new year, too. (In 2022, Lunar New Year began on Feb. 1.) Mindy isn’t looking forward to it, as it’s the first one without her mom, but her dad really wants to attend the parade in Orlando. She wants her dad to be happy, so she is willing to go and is able to bring her BFF, Sally, who’s excited to attend. Mindy’s hanbok (“a traditional Korean dress that people wear on holidays and special occasions”) that her mom bought her last year still mostly fits, which is a plus. Unfortunately, the parade doesn’t go as planned – there are no Korean performers – and when the girls are distracted by an entry in the parade route, they rush off, thinking Mr. Kim is right behind them, except he isn’t. Despite unexpected turns-of-events, will Mindy find fun in her day and turn disappointment into success? And why is her dad acting so weird around Julie, his coworker whom he runs into at the parade?

            While I grew up in a Caucasian household, I’m not without knowledge of some Korean things. For example, I love that Mindy wears a hanbok to the parade. I happen to have two. I received my first one when I was right around Mindy’s age, and the style is very similar to the one Mindy’s wearing on the cover, but the colors are slightly different. That was a gift from a paternal uncle, who, in those years, spent a lot of time traveling for his job, including trips to Korea. The second one came in my early 20s, a gift from a college friend who, unlike me, grew up in Korea within a Korean family. She and her mom picked it out, and to this day, that hanbok remains such a special gift!

            Reading this story makes me want to eat all kinds of Korean food! Anybody with me?

Mindy Kim and the Birthday Puppy (June 9, 2020).

Turning eight is a big deal when you’ve been working so hard to prove you’re responsible enough for a puppy! And that is exactly what Mindy has been doing, even going so far as to not have all of her stuffed animals on her bed at one time. Having a birthday party with her dad, her dad’s girlfriend (Julie) and her classmates with her favorite mint chocolate chip ice cream cake is great, but the very best thing is getting a puppy. She names her rescue pup Theodore, because his bushy face kind of reminds her of Teddy Roosevelt, whom they’ve been learning about in class. What she doesn’t realize is exactly how much work it is to train and take care of a puppy. From potty training to teaching commands like “Sit!” to learning that wrecking things isn’t okay to making other doggy friends, Mindy worries that her dad may want to return Theodore. Fortunately, Mindy is armed with lots of love and a bag of treats, and she’s on a mission to make Theodore a part of the Kim family, trained and all!

            Anyone who’s ever had a puppy knows how much work they are – and how adorable they are – and can therefore empathize! I appreciate how these stories continue to have plots that aren’t out-of-proportion for a typical eight-year-old. This one is friendly and sweet.

            I know not everyone is a fan of mint chocolate chip ice cream, but I happen to be a big fan of it, so I LOVE that it’s Mindy’s favorite. (I wouldn’t say it’s MY favorite, but that’s only because I can’t choose a favorite.)

Mindy Kim, Class President (Sept. 15, 2020).

Vote Mindy, Vote Snacks! Mindy has decided to run for class president of Room 303 at Wishbone Elementary. She likes to be kind to everyone, she wants to be friends with everyone, and she enjoys giving out snacks, especially when sharing snacks opens others’ eyes to many of the Korean snacks she so loves to munch on. Mindy is excited to run for class president, but she’ll have to write a speech and present it in front of her entire class, according to their teacher, Mr. Brady. Can Mindy face her fear of speaking in front of people and prove to others, particularly herself, that she can do this and do it successfully? Will she win the majority vote?

            Of the five Mindy Kim books in this post, this is the only one that my local library didn’t have. I’m not sure why they skipped this fourth book. While chapter books may be thought of as simple, I found this story to have depth in Mindy putting in practice and hard work to overcome a fear of speaking in front of others. This also makes the story realistic, because I remember how scary I thought speaking or performing in front of others was! No joke; I was that little girl that would walk onto a stage and then walk right back off! I grew up to find speaking in front of an audience is one of my strengths, but that was definitely not the case when I was in elementary school.

Mindy Kim and the Trip to Korea (June 8, 2021).

It’s Mindy’s first time in Korea! She is nervous to travel so far (Florida and South Korea are very far apart), she knows she’s going to miss Theodore, and she’s nervous about meeting her uncle and cousins in person for the first time. She finds out what jet lag is and is unsure of Korea at first with its unfamiliarity, but soon she’s conversing with her relatives in Korean to the best of her ability, picking out souvenirs and even getting fitted for a hanbok that fits her nine-year-old self. She even helps Julie, her dad’s girlfriend, make kimbap, with a very interesting result on the first attempt, reminding her that it is always okay to ask for help. Surrounded by family, delicious Korean food made by her halmeoni (grandma) and the excitement of visiting places like Seoul (Korea’s capital) and enjoying mulnori (Korean word for “playing in the water”), Mindy is in for the trip of a lifetime. The two weeks that look so far out at the start of the trip, when it still looks intimidating, will actually fly by quick-as-a-wink!

            I’ve been saying this for awhile now, and I’ll say it again many more times, but I want to visit Korea again so much. Korea isn’t home to me; I am a tourist when I go, but I so enjoyed my visit there way back in 2009. I am a strong proponent of traveling, domestic and international, as it is so eye-opening to so many cultures. I want all people to embrace other cultures and not be afraid to learn about them and ask questions!

 

Overall Thoughts: Although my story doesn’t exactly coincide with Mindy’s, to have been introduced to a character who “looks like me” when I was little would’ve been amazing, which means I appreciate these stories all the more as an adult. These stories have real-world flair, but are understandable for young readers making the step from picture books to intermediate stories. Mindy shows us kindness and friendship go a long way, even when it isn’t reciprocated. She also brings us a lesson in culture, as some may not know about Korea, despite the popularity of things like K-pop and K-dramas.