Giving Thanks with Halmoni: Celebrating Chuseok, the Korean Harvest Festival
Written by Kathleen Choi
and Sook Nyul Choi
Illustrated by Il Sung Na
Published by Red Comet Press
As the moon grows fuller each night, Su-Jin’s halmoni (grandmother) prepares for the biggest Korean holiday of the year—a time for family, gratitude, and remembrance.
Eager to share the celebration, Su-Jin invites her friends Maddy and Keisha to help Halmoni get ready. Together, they prepare traditional foods, wrap gifts in colorful cloth, play festive games, and learn how to honor ancestors. Along the way, the girls discover how to wish each other a happy Chuseok in Korean and explore the connections between Korean and American Thanksgiving traditions.
With vibrant illustrations by Il Sung Na and storytelling by Kathleen Choi and Sook Nyul Choi, this book beautifully captures the spirit of Chuseok and the joy of cultural exchange. A touching tale of friendship, identity, and belonging, it’s perfect for readers ages 4–7 and families looking to celebrate heritage and gratitude together.
Primary ISBN: 9781636551616
Publication Date: August 2025
Available As: Hardcover, eBook
Picture Book, Age 04 or older
Community Represented: Korean/Korean American
Themes: Celebrations, Celebrations: Mid-Autumn Festival, Celebrations: Thanksgiving, Cross-Group Friendship, Cultural Empowerment, Cultural Empowerment & Joy: Celebrations & Traditions, Cultural Empowerment & Joy: Family, Cultural Empowerment & Joy: Food, Family Relationship: Grandparents, Generation: 1st, Identity: Multilingual, Multilingual: Korean Featured Words, Neighbors & Neighborhoods, Own Voices/Lived Experience, Welcoming by Community
Setting: United States
Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: 1st Generation
Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience
Click here for details about how we define our titles.
Engagement Projects & Resources:
Share your favorite resources for this book with info@imyourneighborbooks.org.