Charlene Chua - Only Picture Books

Home in a Lunchbox
Author: Cherry Mo
Illustrator: Cherry Mo
11 June 2024
Penguin Workshop
40 pages

Book description from Goodreads: “Cherry Mo’s stunning debut is about a young girl who immigrates to America and finds home in an unexpected place.

When Jun moves from Hong Kong to America, the only words she knows are hello, thank you, I don’t know, and toilet. Her new school feels foreign and terrifying.

But when she opens her lunchbox to find her favorite meals—like bao, dumplings, and bok choy—she realizes home isn’t so far away after all.

Through lush art and spare dialogue, Cherry Mo’s breathtakingly beautiful debut picture book reminds readers that friendship and belonging can be found in every bite.”

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Reading Activities inspired by Home in a Lunchbox:

Before Reading–From looking at the front cover:
- What do you notice first on the cover?
- What do the lunchbox, food, and classroom details make you wonder about the story?
- How does the girl on the cover seem to feel? What clues show that?
- Why do you think the title says home can be “in” a lunchbox?
- Where do you think the girl is? What clues help you know?
- What questions would you like to ask the author-illustrator before reading the book?
After Reading–Now that you’ve read the story:
- Why does Jun feel unsure at her new school?
- How does the lunchbox help Jun feel connected to home?
- What do the illustrations show us that the words don’t explain?
- Where do you see Jun beginning to feel less alone?
- How does food help people share parts of who they are?
- What does this book suggest about friendship?
- Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
Four Words, Big World: Jun begins school with only a few English words she knows how to use. Imagine arriving somewhere new where most people don’t speak your language. What four words or phrases would you most want to know first? Write them down, then explain why each one would matter.
Lunchbox Memory Map: Choose one food that reminds you of home or someone you love. Instead of just naming the food, make a memory map around it. What does it smell like? Who makes it? Where do you usually eat it? What does it make you remember?
A Page with Few Words: This book uses spare dialogue, which means the pictures have to do a lot of storytelling. Choose one spread and study it carefully. What can you understand just by studying the picture? Write three things the art tells you without needing many words.
The First-Day Feeling: Jun’s new school feels confusing and unfamiliar at first. Think about a time when you were new somewhere, or imagine what that might feel like. Make a short list of things that could help someone feel welcome without requiring lots of talking.
Share a Bite, Share a Story: Food can be a way to tell someone where you come from, who loves you, or what feels comforting. Choose one food you would share with a new friend. Write a few lines about why you picked it and what you’d want that friend to understand about it.
Books, Books, and More Books!: Check out these picture books about food, family, and finding where you belong:

Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao by Kat Zhang, illustrated by Charlene Chua
Amy wants to make bao just like everyone else in her family, but getting them exactly right takes practice.

Bilal Cooks Daal by Aisha Saeed, illustrated by Anoosha Syed
Bilal shares one of his favorite foods with friends, even though daal takes patience.

Drawn Together by Minh Lê, illustrated by Dan Santat
A boy and his grandfather struggle to communicate with words, then discover another way to understand each other.

Luli and the Language of Tea by Andrea Wang, illustrated by Hyewon Yum
Children who speak different languages find common ground through tea.

Watercress by Andrea Wang, illustrated by Jason Chin
A girl feels embarrassed when her family stops to gather watercress, then learns the deeper story behind that food.

Are You a Friend of Dorothy?
Author: Kyle Lukoff
Illustrator: Levi Hastings
29 April 2025
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
40 pages

Book description from Goodreads: “In a time when the LGBTQ+ community was forced to hide in the shadows, a woman named Dorothy helped her people find each other in the dark and celebrate themselves in the light.

But who was Dorothy? Was she from the neighborhood, someone’s wife, mother, or sister? Was she that clever writer, who threw parties where there were no rules about who you could and couldn’t dance with? Or was she a girl from Kansas, who dreamed of leaving her black-and-white, small-town life and finding a vibrant, colorful world that loved her?

Dorothy might have been all these things—because Dorothy, as known by the post-WWII queer community, wasn’t real. Still, she helped a community find connection and care amidst adversity.”

Need some reviews of Are You a Friend of Dorothy?

Reading Activities inspired by Are You a Friend of Dorothy?:

Before Reading–From looking at the front cover:
- What do you notice first when you look at the cover?
- What do you think the title means? Who or what might “Dorothy” refer to?
- What mood or feeling do the colors and art style give you?
- Who do you think this book might be about? What clues helped you decide
- If you could ask the character on the cover a question, what would it be?
After Reading–Now that you’ve read the story:
- What did the phrase “Are you a friend of Dorothy?” help people do?
- Why do you think people had to hide their true selves in the past
- How does the illustrator show community and connection in the pictures?
- What are some ways the book blends fact and imagination?
- How has life changed for LGBTQ+ people since the time this story takes place—and what challenges still remain?
- What message do you think the author wants young readers to take away?
- Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
Code Words & Connection Collage
Make a collage about what it means to belong. Use magazines, drawings, stickers, or digital images to show places, people, or ideas that help you feel seen and safe. Add a secret symbol or word that only someone “in the know” would understand (just like the friends of Dorothy).
Rainbow Timeline
This story looks at a real part of LGBTQ+ history. Create a visual timeline that starts with the phrase “Are you a friend of Dorothy?” and ends with the Pride celebrations we know today. Include moments from the book and add your own ideas or research about important LGBTQ+ events.
Dorothy Who? Detective Game
The book offers different guesses about who Dorothy might’ve been. Choose one—Dorothy Gale, Dorothy Parker, or another idea—and create a mini case file. Draw clues, write a short “report,” or make a wanted poster that shows why your choice could be the true Dorothy.
Color Outside the Lines
The illustrations in this book are bold and expressive, with vibrant colors that tell a story. Choose one page you love and recreate it using your own color choices or art style. What mood or message are you showing through your choices?
Secret Signals Station
Come up with your own set of signals to say things without using words. You might use hand signs, symbols, or invented phrases. Practice with a friend or family member—can they figure out what your signals mean?
Books, Books, and More Books!
Check out these real-world picture books about identity, community, and the power of finding your people: