Book Review- Home in a Lunchbox

Home in a Lunchbox

By Cherry Mo

Lately, we’ve been exploring a lot of immigrant stories as a gentle way to introduce our child to the wider world - and to help make sense of what we see in the news. One theme that keeps surfacing is loneliness, something that resonates deeply with me as a parent raising a single child. It’s a feeling that quietly echoes through our own lives too.

In Home in a Lunchbox, we meet little Jun, who has just moved to America. Everything- the culture, the language, the people- feels unfamiliar. To fit in at her new school, Jun writes down English phrases on her hand with their Cantonese translations. But without any real context or support, these phrases often miss the mark, leaving her feeling even more isolated.

The one moment of comfort in Jun’s day is lunchtime. Her home-cooked meal becomes a source of joy- a warm reminder of home and her roots. These moments are beautifully brought to life through vivid illustrations filled with rainbows, hearts, and bright colors- the most visually comforting pages in the book.

At its heart, this is a story about connection. Through food, Jun begins to find common ground in her new world. And sometimes, that’s all it takes- a shared meal, a familiar flavor- to bridge differences. While the book is almost wordless, its storytelling is powerful. Jun’s emotional journey- her sadness, resilience, and quiet strength- is something we felt deeply connected to.

Ideal for children aged 3 and up.