Grandfather's journey
Allen Say
Like Halmoni and the Picnic, it shows a grandparent's life across an ocean and the quiet longing for home. Its spare, lovely pictures carry the emotion that Choi's story builds with gentle detail.
12 books to read next
Books Like Halmoni and the Picnic
If you loved Halmoni and the Picnic by Sook Nyul Choi
Halmoni and the Picnic follows a Korean American girl whose grandmother has just arrived from Korea and is still finding her footing in a new country. Readers love its warm family bond, its gentle humor, and the way the classroom and the home come together around a shared day out. The pace is unhurried and the tone is tender, with small everyday moments that show how language, food, and kindness can bridge a gap between generations.
Grandparents and new beginnings
The keeping quilt
Patricia Polacco
A family heirloom ties generations together, much as Halmoni's presence anchors her granddaughter's family. The warm, personal storytelling will feel familiar to readers who loved the close bond in Choi's book.
Four feet, two sandals
Karen Lynn Williams, Karen Lynn William
Two girls in a refugee camp share a single pair of sandals, and their friendship offers the same tender focus on kindness in unfamiliar surroundings. Readers who appreciated the grandmother's quiet adjustment will find a similar emotional core.
Classmates who make room
Chrysanthemum
Kevin Henkes
A young mouse learns to feel proud of her unusual name after classmates tease her, echoing the way Halmoni's classmates help her feel welcome. Its gentle humor and clear emotional arc suit fans of Choi's school scenes.
The Name Jar
Yangsook Choi
A Korean American girl moving to a new school worries about fitting in and about her name. The classroom warmth and the quiet cultural details will feel close to the world Choi creates in Halmoni and the Picnic.
Yoko
Rosemary Wells
Yoko's lunchbox of sushi draws teasing until her classmates learn to appreciate it. Its kind take on cultural difference in a school setting will appeal to readers who loved the classroom kindness in Choi's book.
Korean American and immigrant stories
Last Stop on Market Street
Matt de la Peña, Christian Robinson
A boy and his grandmother ride the bus through their city, and the warm conversation and quiet observations feel close to the intergenerational tenderness in Choi's story. The gentle pace and affectionate tone make it a natural next read.
Dear primo
Duncan Tonatiuh
Letters between cousins in two countries show how families stay close across distance and change. Readers who were moved by the family ties in Halmoni and the Picnic will appreciate this warm, personal look at life between two homes.
Peacebound Trains
Haemi Balgassi
A Korean girl and her mother take a long, uncertain journey during wartime, and the story stays close to family devotion and hope. Its Korean setting and tender focus on family will resonate with readers of Choi's Korean American story.
Food, family, and a day out
Crow Boy
Tarō Yashima
A quiet boy who is overlooked at school finds his place through patience and a grandmother's gentle encouragement. Its restrained, reflective tone will appeal to readers who loved the understated warmth of Choi's family scenes.
Grace for president
Kelly S. DiPucchio, Kelly Dipucchio
Grace, the only child who is not sure she belongs, tries to win over her class with a clever campaign. The school setting and the theme of standing up for yourself will suit readers who enjoyed the classmates' support in Halmoni and the Picnic.
Ruby's Wish
Shirin Yim Bridges
A Chinese girl in the 1800s dreams of more freedom than her family's traditions allow, and her family ties are central to her choices. Its historical setting and close family focus will appeal to readers who loved the multigenerational feel of Choi's book.
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