Rabbit Mooncakes

Krakauer's enthusiastic, autobiographical debut recounts her family's celebration of the Harvest Moon Festival, a Chinese holiday of thanksgiving. At the center of the tale is Hoong Wei, the author's spunky younger sister, who fears that their relatives will make fun of her piano playing when she and Hoong Yee accompany the family sing-along. After a day filled with cooking, eating and playing, Hoong Wei convinces Hoong Yee to hide with her in their favorite crab apple tree. When the girls realize they are missing all the fun of the music, they scamper eagerly to the keyboard. Despite its appealing depiction of Chinese American life, the overlong story rambles from one episode to the next, diluting the charm of the central theme. The antic, cartoon-like illustrations, meanwhile, are ripe with details that reflect a comfortable mix of Eastern and Western cultures. Chinese idioms, sprinkled throughout the dialogue, are defined in a glossary preceding the text. Ages 4-8. (May)