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Mindy Kim #2
Mindy Kim and the Lunar New Year Parade
Fresh Off the Boat meets Junie B. Jones in this second novel in an adorable new chapter book series about Mindy Kim, a young Asian American girl who is getting ready to celebrate Lunar New Year!
Mindy is excited to celebrate the Lunar New Year! Even though it’s the first one without her mom, Mindy is determined to enjoy the day. She decides to make traditional Korean New Year food, a rice cake soup that’s her favorite. But things aren’t going quite to plan, and the celebration doesn’t feel the same as it did before.
With the help of her family and friends, can Mindy find a way to still enjoy her old holiday traditions, and create new ones along the way?
Mindy is excited to celebrate the Lunar New Year! Even though it’s the first one without her mom, Mindy is determined to enjoy the day. She decides to make traditional Korean New Year food, a rice cake soup that’s her favorite. But things aren’t going quite to plan, and the celebration doesn’t feel the same as it did before.
With the help of her family and friends, can Mindy find a way to still enjoy her old holiday traditions, and create new ones along the way?
96 pages, Hardcover
First published January 14, 2020
15 people are currently reading
235 people want to read
About the author
Lyla Lee
22 books843 followersLyla Lee is the bestselling author of books for all ages. Inspired by her Korean heritage and love of pop culture, she writes cute and sometimes swoony stories that have been translated into multiple languages around the world. Originally from South Korea, she’s lived in various cities throughout the United States, worked in Hollywood, and studied Psychology and Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California. She now lives in Dallas, Texas. Visit Lyla at lylaleebooks.com or on social media (Kid lit: @literarylyla and adult romance: @authorlylalee).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
September 9, 2019
I'm pretty proud of this book! It's my first time writing extensively about my Korean culture+family traditions. I hope people enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing about Mindy's adventures in learning more about her heritage. <3
January 24, 2020
Read this for my lunar new year readathon I'm hosting with Lacey and it was delightful!!! Loved this story and really appreciated the representation!!
February 6, 2020
Mindy Kim has my whole heart! This is the second book of the Mindy Kim series and this is just as charming and wholesome.
- Follows Mindy during Lunar New Year - the first year without her mother. When Mindy, her best friend Sally, and her father go to the Lunar New Year parade, they bump into her Appa's coworker -- and they end up spending Lunar New Year together!
- This story is about how Mindy shares that part of her life with the people she cares about. It's simple, but I also liked how the story examines what it's like to not see parts of yourself in something that is meant for you, and why representation and inclusion are so important.
- Gah, this book is just so charming and has me all *pleading emoji*. I just loved how simple and sweet the story is, which is perfect for young readers, especially young Korean readers!
- The little sparks between Mindy's father and his co-worker were adorable -- and even more so how shy Appa was? We love a soft Asian dad!
- Once again, the illustrations are so adorable. I loved seeing Mindy in her little hanbok. She was ADORABLE.
Trigger/content warning:
- Follows Mindy during Lunar New Year - the first year without her mother. When Mindy, her best friend Sally, and her father go to the Lunar New Year parade, they bump into her Appa's coworker -- and they end up spending Lunar New Year together!
- This story is about how Mindy shares that part of her life with the people she cares about. It's simple, but I also liked how the story examines what it's like to not see parts of yourself in something that is meant for you, and why representation and inclusion are so important.
- Gah, this book is just so charming and has me all *pleading emoji*. I just loved how simple and sweet the story is, which is perfect for young readers, especially young Korean readers!
- The little sparks between Mindy's father and his co-worker were adorable -- and even more so how shy Appa was? We love a soft Asian dad!
- Once again, the illustrations are so adorable. I loved seeing Mindy in her little hanbok. She was ADORABLE.
Trigger/content warning:
July 20, 2020
This is a really sweet beginning chapter book series. I really enjoyed how well this book pointed out all the different Asian cultures that celebrate Lunar New Year and that making sure they are all represented when you do an event is important.
April 3, 2020
listened to the audiobook of this one and it was just as cute as the first!!!
June 10, 2020
Mindy Kim is worried about her first Lunar New Year without her mother. Plus she and her father live in a new state where she is the only Asian student in her class. Will the day be a bust or a great memory?
One of the things that I like about this book is the fact that it really teaches kids about Korean Lunar New Year, Korean food, customs, traditions, etc. Mindy's best friend Sally is not Korean but is very open to trying new foods and learning their customs which is awesome. Its a bit longer of a early chapter book but I highly recommend to any young reader who enjoys realistic fiction about friendship.
One of the things that I like about this book is the fact that it really teaches kids about Korean Lunar New Year, Korean food, customs, traditions, etc. Mindy's best friend Sally is not Korean but is very open to trying new foods and learning their customs which is awesome. Its a bit longer of a early chapter book but I highly recommend to any young reader who enjoys realistic fiction about friendship.
May 13, 2021
Another cute addition to this series! I loved learning about Korean Lunar New Year, even if it wasn’t exactly the way the MC wanted it to be.
I love thinking that someone will be reading this and learning about a different culture—that this little character who could be in their class or she could be a friend.
I just think this is really cute and I would love to imagine my future kids reading this. Also, this MC is the sweetest little soul, especially when it comes to her dad!
Happy reading!
I love thinking that someone will be reading this and learning about a different culture—that this little character who could be in their class or she could be a friend.
I just think this is really cute and I would love to imagine my future kids reading this. Also, this MC is the sweetest little soul, especially when it comes to her dad!
Happy reading!
July 10, 2020
MINDY IN HER HANBOK IS THE CUTEST THING EVER I AM SCREAMING! This was even better than the first book. Now I'm craving very specific Korean food late at night. Thanks. These books make me so happy I love them.
May 11, 2021
This series is so multifaceted. I love that there's this series where kids are learning to read, but also learning morals, life lessons, and Korean culture and traditions. Please, promote this series to your early readers.
January 22, 2020
Before reading this I knew next to nothing about the Lunar New Year. Now I have a working understanding of it, which is cool! I love Mindy Kim and her dad. Great story!
January 6, 2021
So cute!
June 11, 2021
The second installment in this very cute series. Love it!
February 24, 2020
Mindy Kim isn’t looking forward to the Lunar New Year—because this year, her mom won’t be here to celebrate with the family. Things start looking up, however, when her BFF Sally agrees to go to the Lunar New Year Parade with her. Through additional interactions with family and more friends, Mindy begins to enjoy old traditions and form new ones along the way.
Mindy Kim and the Lunar New Year Parade is a super cute book. As with book one, Mindy’s voice compelled me to keep turning the page, and adorable illustrations bring her adventures—and misadventures—to life. If book one provided us with a soft introduction to Korean culture (through the food, market, and honorifics), book two deep dives into Korean culture through traditions relating to the Lunar New Year: clothing (hanbok), more food, and games, among other traditions. Also like book one, Mindy’s dad continues to be a strong presence in Mindy’s life, supporting her and teaching her, as the two struggle with the loss of Mindy’s mom and the realities of life without her.
As I mentioned in my review of book one, this is a series that I would have loved as a kid. Mindy Kim and the Lunar New Year Parade provides a great introduction to Korean Lunar New Year traditions through a protagonist who I can see becoming a beloved household name like Junie B. Jones. Many Asian children, in particular, can relate to Mindy’s experiences as the minority and teaching her friend about her family’s traditions. I appreciate how Mindy’s experience with the Lunar New Year Parade portrays how many Asian cultures celebrate the Lunar New Year and acknowledges the reality that, sometimes, one culture may lack proper representation: which leads to the question of what we can do to resolve this issue.
Mindy Kim and the Lunar New Year Parade is a super cute book. As with book one, Mindy’s voice compelled me to keep turning the page, and adorable illustrations bring her adventures—and misadventures—to life. If book one provided us with a soft introduction to Korean culture (through the food, market, and honorifics), book two deep dives into Korean culture through traditions relating to the Lunar New Year: clothing (hanbok), more food, and games, among other traditions. Also like book one, Mindy’s dad continues to be a strong presence in Mindy’s life, supporting her and teaching her, as the two struggle with the loss of Mindy’s mom and the realities of life without her.
As I mentioned in my review of book one, this is a series that I would have loved as a kid. Mindy Kim and the Lunar New Year Parade provides a great introduction to Korean Lunar New Year traditions through a protagonist who I can see becoming a beloved household name like Junie B. Jones. Many Asian children, in particular, can relate to Mindy’s experiences as the minority and teaching her friend about her family’s traditions. I appreciate how Mindy’s experience with the Lunar New Year Parade portrays how many Asian cultures celebrate the Lunar New Year and acknowledges the reality that, sometimes, one culture may lack proper representation: which leads to the question of what we can do to resolve this issue.
December 2, 2020
Mindy is super excited for Lunar New Year, but she isn't so sure about celebrating it without mom or in Florida. In California there were lots of other Koreans around to share the celebration, but not so much in Florida. Her dad says he is planning on taking her to a Lunar New Year parade in a nearby city that's supposed to be big and Sally can come too, so maybe the day won't be a total loss.
I really like how this book exposes readers to not just Korean Lunar New Year traditions but some other Asian cultures' traditions as well. First holidays after a loved one dies are very hard, and that is represented authentically here without being overwhelmingly sad. Mindy and Sally learn an important lesson about safety in big crowds during the parade, that is important for all little kids. And I like the way they adapt and create their own little celebration when the parade doesn't turn out to be everything they hoped. A sweet and rich cultural story that's a fantastic read for Lunar New Year, or any time a lower grade reader is looking for a realistic story about a girl adjusting to changes.
I really like how this book exposes readers to not just Korean Lunar New Year traditions but some other Asian cultures' traditions as well. First holidays after a loved one dies are very hard, and that is represented authentically here without being overwhelmingly sad. Mindy and Sally learn an important lesson about safety in big crowds during the parade, that is important for all little kids. And I like the way they adapt and create their own little celebration when the parade doesn't turn out to be everything they hoped. A sweet and rich cultural story that's a fantastic read for Lunar New Year, or any time a lower grade reader is looking for a realistic story about a girl adjusting to changes.
August 30, 2020
8/28/2020 ~ A fun new early chapter book / chapter book about Mindy, a Korean-American child living with her dad (mom died after being seriously sick.) In this first book, the two have just moved to Florida from California and Mindy is struggling with being one of the few Asian kids in her school.
I have a few quibbles with the series. It's told in first person, and I don't quite buy Mindy's voice. Also, she's 7 1/2 (first or second grade) and in book two, she's studying long division (typically a 4th grade topic.)
However, I'll definitely be adding the series to my elementary library. I thoroughly enjoyed the aspects of Korean culture that Mindy and her father shared with readers and other characters in the book.
I have a few quibbles with the series. It's told in first person, and I don't quite buy Mindy's voice. Also, she's 7 1/2 (first or second grade) and in book two, she's studying long division (typically a 4th grade topic.)
However, I'll definitely be adding the series to my elementary library. I thoroughly enjoyed the aspects of Korean culture that Mindy and her father shared with readers and other characters in the book.
April 23, 2021
This second entry in the Mindy Kim series had Korean food, sebae (bowing to elders), yutnori, and other new year Korean activities that my daughter learned about in school (she is currently attending a Korean dual language immersion elementary school). She absolutely loved it. The one potential con I have is that Mindy's dad starts to have a crush on his coworker, and Mindy's mom hasn't even been dead a whole year! I felt uncomfortable with that, but I suppose it must be realistic to some situations. I also thought it was a little unrealistic that they attend a pan-Asian Lunar New Year celebration. I have never seen one of those--only Chinese, Vietnamese or Korean specifically. But again, perhaps it does really exist.
Gr. 2-3
Gr. 2-3
April 23, 2020
This is the second Mindy Kim book and equally as delightful. I love how much about Mindy's Korean culture is shared in this book as she celebrates Lunar New Year with her dad and friends. There is also the added element of her dad, who is a widower, beginning to date in this book that is dealt with using the same warmth and heart as in the first book. I have read a lot of early chapter books with and for my early elementary school kids lately and I am so impressed by the quality of writing, story, and general depth in this series.
February 20, 2021
I loved this. It was very reminiscent of my years living in Korea and celebrating Lunar New Year and Maddie was delighted with it because she’d learned a bit about the holiday at school and because this is the year that she fit into the hanbok that a friend sent from Korea.
I also loved the way it pointed out that representation must also be diverse - because different countries and cultures can celebrate the same holiday in very different ways.
We will definitely be going back and reading the first in the series and then continuing on with it.
I also loved the way it pointed out that representation must also be diverse - because different countries and cultures can celebrate the same holiday in very different ways.
We will definitely be going back and reading the first in the series and then continuing on with it.
January 11, 2021
Mindy isn't sure that she and her dad should celebrate the new year since it couldn't compare to last year in California when her mom was still with them. But when Mindy brings a friend along to the new year parade, and when her dad meets a coworker friend there, they enjoy teaching their new friends about Korean traditional new year. And I, the reader, learned a lot too!
January 5, 2021
Fascinating to read about a Korean girl growing up with her father - never had a Korean character in English growing up so this is new to me!
Friendship - for Mindy and her father
NY traditions and cultures
G1-2
Friendship - for Mindy and her father
NY traditions and cultures
G1-2
April 20, 2021
Great chapter book series for the starters! This book shows cultural traditions that occur around the Lunar New Year. I think this series is different and shows a part of a culture that is not in a lot of children's books. I think this promotes great diversity.
January 19, 2020
Mindy Kim is an adorable second grader and perfect for early readers. My kids loved the book, and I love have non-white main characters for them to read about.
January 31, 2020
What was your favorite part
March 20, 2020
I like what I'm learning
April 2, 2020
Cute book!
April 14, 2020
A. dor. a. ble.
Seriously all the warm heart fuzzies. I love how much Mindy loves puppies. And the nice touches about Korean traditions for the Lunar New Year. <3
Seriously all the warm heart fuzzies. I love how much Mindy loves puppies. And the nice touches about Korean traditions for the Lunar New Year. <3
June 19, 2020
I am so proud of Mindy who wants to share Korean culture and food with his new friend.
September 6, 2020
I liked this one better than the first in the series. Mindy is a sweet character and it’s nice to see the Korean traditions explained and celebrated throughout the book.
February 9, 2021
This is the cutest beginner chapter book series I have read in a while. LOVE this series and the wonderful representation of Korean culture.
June 23, 2021
Read this with my daughter. We both enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews