Let’s Celebrate Korean New Year!

On Seollal morning, Madeleine is excited for the coming Lunar New Year party, even when younger sister Eloise groans, “It’s too early.” Raring to go, Madeleine declares, “First, we need hanboks!” before leading the two in dressing. Madeleine then prods them into the kitchen to make mandoo, bustles them along to create a card for arriving guests, and more—until realizing that she’s forgotten about the poem she writes each year. As little sister Eloise slowly navigates the steps, Park’s beat-by-beat prose relays Madeleine’s emphatic oversight, until poem-writing offers an opportunity for both sisters to take part. Yum’s signature-style colored pencil illustrations cheerily depict Korean New Year traditions in this festive picture book about two siblings who eventually find that “each tradition is fun,/ but with you, it’s much better.” A glossary, activity, and recipe concludes. Ages 4–8. (Dec.)