The Have a Good Day Cafe [Paperback]

Frances Park (Author), Ginger Park (Author), Katherine Potter (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 31, 2008 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

After leaving Korea to live with her son's family in the United States, Mike's grandmother suggests a plan to help with their food cart business.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-3–Mike loves his grandma dearly, but he's saddened by her constant yearning for her homeland of Korea. Having only arrived in America recently, she is also tired of sitting alone in the apartment all day. Despite the protests of her son, she joins the family as they set up a food cart on a busy park corner. Business starts slowing down when competition arrives also selling pizza and hot dogs, so quick-witted Mike comes up with a plan to serve Korean dishes instead of the usual American fare. He employs Grandma as his partner in this new venture, and by the end of the next day, their newly dubbed Have a Good Day Café cart proves a success. Allowing readers an understanding of the world of elderly immigrants, the Parks tell a gentle tale of how people can feel at home when they are able to contribute something to their family. Children will also readily recognize the loving and realistic relationship between a grandmother and her grandson. Soft pastel illustrations nicely complement this simple story. A useful glossary of Korean foods is included. An intelligent, thoughtful tale.–Elizabeth Bird, New York Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Gr. 1-3. This intergenerational, multicultural, picture book covers many bases. Mike's Korean grandmother is still adjusting to her move to the U.S. While Mike helps her learn English, she helps the family, which owns a food cart, beat stiff competition. The family once did a good business serving pizza, bagels, and hot dogs on a busy corner, but now two other carts serving similar fare have moved in. Mike's idea--to serve delicious Korean specialties that only Grandma knows how to make--saves the business and also helps Grandma feel at home. Simple, colorful illustrations complement a straightforward text. A note of humor is introduced as Grandma peeks slyly over a dumpling she holds to her mouth to mimic a smile--a joke she says Mike's father loved when he was young. Korean food terms are sprinkled throughout the text, and back matter includes definitions, pictures, and the words written in Korean. Diane Foote
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Lee & Low Books (July 31, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1600603580
• ISBN-13: 978-1600603587
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.6 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #974,328 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A boy that his grandmother's traditions from Korea are a welcome addition in the U.S.A., October 5, 2009

By 

American Immigration Council's Community Educ... (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Have a Good Day Cafe (Paperback)

Mike loves his grandmother, but he wishes she wouldn't talk so much about her old home in Korea. In the summer Mike, his grandmother, and his parents go to the city each day with their family's food cart. Mike's parents sell bagels, juice, hot dogs, and soda while Mike sits on the grass with his grandmother sharing his drawings. One day two other food carts park near Mike's parents' cart and business tapers off. Soon after Mike has an idea about how to improve business. He and his grandmother get up early one morning and make Korean food to sell on the cart. It's a big hit with their customers and Mike discovers that his grandmother's traditions from Korea are a welcome addition in the U.S.A. as well.

5.0 out of 5 stars Traditional food makes an excellent food for a lunch cart, July 5, 2008

By 

KSL "emma-and-me" (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Have a Good Day Cafe (Hardcover)

A young boy's Korean grandmother comes to live with them in America.Mike's grandmother is always thinking and dreaming of her life back in Korea. Mike's family owns a food cart that they bring out and park at the corner of the park. They sell Bagels, OJ, Hot Dogs, chips, soda and pizza at their cart. Soon other carts come and sell the same kinds of things that Mike's family's cart sells. With too much competition they sell less food and wonder what they can keep their cart.

One evening while cooking dinner with is grandmother they come up with a terrific idea, Grandma and Mike get up early and make Korean food and when his parents wake up they tell them that today we have a new menu, we're going to sell Korean food today. Mike draws a sign that says Have a good Day Cafe for their food cart.

I like on the very last page they have Learn about the Koren Words in this story. They show the Korean writing and also how to pronounce the words as well as the Korean dishes.