Henry's First-Moon Birthday

Henry’s First-Moon Birthday
By Lenore Look
Illustrated by Yumi Heo


Henry’s First-Moon Birthday was by far my favorite book in the set of texts that I chose. She also wrote another book using the same illustrator, in 2006, called Uncle Peter’s Amazing Chinese Wedding.

To begin with, the first page before the actual story has a glossary of words for people who might not be educated with the Chinese culture. For example, it explains not only what a “first-moon birthday party” is, but it also explains all of the Chinese words used within the text. I love that the text of the picture book is not just in English, but has words in Chinese. (They are not written in Chinese symbols, but sounded out- ex. GninGnin is her grandmother).

This is the story of Jen, Jenny, but never Jennifer. (Pg. 1, Look, 2001) She is getting ready for her brothers first-moon birthday, or his one-month birthday. She spends all day working with her GninGnin, her grandmother, prepare everything from the food, the decorations, and Jen’s home. The pictures go along beautifully with the text, and the sentences are pretty simple and silly. My favorite page is page 28, which states- “When the grown-ups aren’t around, we peek inside Baby Henry’s hungbaus and count more than one hundred dollars! We think of a million ways to spend it. Then we jump on the beds.” (Pg. 28, Look, 2001). I find it hilarious to just clearly say these sentences together- one having nothing to do with the other two. The pictures are filled with texture, never just one color, but pattern after pattern, even on the walls and in the sky. I like the fact that there are Chinese symbols included in some of the illustrations, specifically on page 9.

The information was scarce on the author. After searching numerous websites, there was not a lot I found out about her, except for what I saw on the back of the book cover. I was not sure whether she was Asian or not until I found a picture of her on Google, where I found out she is clearly of Asian decent. The illustrator of the book, Yumi Heo, was born in Korea and moved to the United States in 1989. (Back cover, Look, 2001). So the illustrator is an insider, as well as the author, although I couldn’t find her decent or her past history.

Any teacher would most likely have a lot of fun with this story, for every child can relate to having a little brother, having to help out around the house, and celebrating a cultural tradition- a birthday party. Everyone might have their own family tradition when it comes to family parties. The book does an awesome way of specifically making this book relatable to children while maintaining the main characters cultural practices, while also educating the reader on a tradition many Chinese cultures celebrate.



Look, Lenore. Henry's First-Moon Birthday. New York, NY: Anetheneum Books for Young Readers, 2001.

The first picture was found here:
http://www.ofertondelibros.com/images/large/isbn978068/9780689822940-l.jpg
The second picture was found here:
http://www.bookpatrol.net/2008_07_01_archive.html