The Magic Lunch Box

Raised in L.A.'s Koreatown by immigrant parents, Ben and his family have moved to Michigan, where fourth-grader Ben's traditional Korean lunches generate unwanted attention. When his new classmates make fun of the food he's brought, Ben throws his lunch away and wishes to be like everyone else. The next day, when he opens his lunch box, his dumplings magically turn into a ham-and-cheese sandwich. His wish has come true! Upsettingly, more than his mom's dumplings start to disappear, including his favorite Korean cartoon and his ability to understand his halmoni. It isn't until Ben sees his friend Emilio resist being bullied for his lunch (Mexican mole and rice) that Ben understands that he needs to stand up for himself and his culture for his life to return to normal. Colorful digital illustrations pepper the easy-to-read chapters of this series starter, which speaks to resilience and cultural pride. Bountiful back matter includes a glossary of Korean words, a list of Korean foods, a recipe for kimbap, and critical-thinking prompts.--Rose Camargo "Booklist"