Beneath the Same Round Moon: A Mooncake Festival Story

A Mid-Autumn Festival story about family connecting across distance, perfect for Asian readers, readers learning about different cultural holidays, and any reader who has celebrated a holiday with a family member long-distance.

Pearl is eager to welcome loved ones to her house for the traditional Mooncake Festival dinner. But her family is spread far and wide, and this year they won’t be able to travel to reunite over the special dinner. Her big sister is away at college, her dad is working as an airline pilot, and her grandfather, Yéye, has passed away. Will it still be a special day with only Pearl, her mother, and her grandma?

When NǎiNai arrives with baskets of ingredients, the three generations work diligently to cook dinner, bake mooncakes, and make lanterns, with each element reminding Pearl of the people she misses. On the night of the Mooncake Festival, they need to be creative in how they celebrate as a family, showing Pearl that no matter where they are, her family is still connected beneath the same round moon.

A relatable story of celebrating virtually for holidays when families are separated by distance, and a reminder that our holiday traditions connect us even when we’re not together in the same place. This Mid-Autumn Festival story includes lovely details about the traditions around this holiday, including backmatter with a mooncake recipe and instructions for making a paper lantern.