Review by Booklist Review
Juna loves Saturdays when she can spend the day at her father's dry-cleaning shop, helping him and enjoying his company. One day, Appa is preoccupied, and Juna has to keep out of his way. The warm steam of the pants presser makes her dreamy, and her imagination takes flight. In her dream, she is helping her father find a customer's missing jacket. When she tries to help Appa in reality, though, he brushes her aside in his own worry about finding the jacket. Gentle watercolor illustrations mirror the text and capture the close and caring relationship that Juna and Appa share, as well as her feelings of vulnerability when she feels she isn't needed. In the author's note, we learn that the story has some autobiographical elements, and that this is a tribute to Park's parents and the happy memories she had in their dry-cleaning shop, even while they were preoccupied with work responsibilities. This lovely message will resonate with empathetic readers everywhere.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
A girl goes on a series of imaginary adventures with unique fathers from the natural world in this captivating follow-up to Juna's Jar. Juna, who cues as Korean American, enjoys helping her Appa at the family's dry cleaning shop, but when an expensive garment goes missing, she's instructed to sit still. Though the child attempts to comply, daydreaming repeatedly brings her face-to-face with different animal dads, including a greater rhea bird (who, back matter notes, warms eggs for weeks before they hatch), a giant water bug (who carries eggs on his back), and a Darwin's frog (who swallows his offspring for safety, then burps them up). While none of the interactions locate the missing item, they do remind Juna of the bond she shares with Appa--a caring connection that helps the pair transcend the day's stresses. Hoshino's gentle watercolors work hand in hand with the dreamy elements of Park's sensitive story. An author's note concludes. Ages 4--8. (May)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2--Juna's favorite day of the week is usually Saturday, when she can join Appa at their dry-cleaning store. They always end the day eating carne asada tacos at the food truck across the street. But on this Saturday a very angry customer has set both Appa and Juna on edge as they look for the man's missing coat. Even though Juna tries to be helpful, she just seems to get in the way. As she waits for her appa, she is transported to the natural world, where she learns about how animal fathers care for their young. This inevitably makes her think of how Appa takes care of her, bringing Juna and readers back to the shop. Although it is never revealed if the excursions to animal habitats are simply daydreaming or a bit of magical realism, readers will eagerly go along with Juna in her explorations. Detailed watercolors in muted tones add to the magical atmosphere. Back matter includes information about these special father/child relationships and an author's note explains a personal connection to the story. Some readers might be disappointed that the central conflict, a customer losing his coat, is never resolved, but this is a good jumping-off point for group discussion or a writing activity. VERDICT As a window into Korean American culture and a reminder of the importance of parents throughout the animal kingdom, this title will be a welcome addition to many collections.--Louie Lauer
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
While helping at her family's store, a little girl daydreams of animal adventures that remind her of her father's love. Juna loves going with Appa, her father, to his dry-cleaning shop on Saturdays; she enjoys feeling the soft steam of the pant presser and sorting the colorful spools of thread. But when a customer claims his jacket is lost and Juna's attempts to recover it seem more of a distraction than a service, her imagination takes flight. Conjuring up everything from a giant, nuzzling bird to a water bug that offers a piggyback ride, she realizes parental love comes in many forms. Not wanting her father to worry, the kindhearted heroine offers her own savings for a replacement coat. Her father refuses and, to reassure her, leads her by the hand to their beloved taco truck across the street. Hoshino's watercolor illustrations, with their soft, dreamlike quality, are perfectly matched to Juna's musings. Delicate patterning and fanciful play of scale will captivate readers, while the warm glow of the shop brings the Korean American girl's emotional connection and sense of place to life in this love letter to the mom-and-pop shops that carry the hopes, dreams, and hard work of the families who run them. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Alight with generosity and familial love. (animal facts) (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
