A Hanbok for Hana

A Hanbok for Hana by Korena Di Roma Howley is a heartfelt story about family and navigating changes.

Hana loves Chuseok, but the Korean holiday doesn’t feel the same in her new small town as it did in the big city where she used to live. It’s almost time for Chuseok! Hana always looks forward to the stories, laughter, games, and delicious treats that come with the holiday. She loves wearing her traditional Korean hanbok, with its big, billowy skirt and a soft rustle.

But Hana and her Eomma have moved from a bustling city to a small town, and nothing is the same. Worse, Hana’s hanbok is now too small! Last time she needed a new hanbok, they went to a dress shop that smelled of ginseng tea. However, here the only place to buy a hanbok is on the computer screen.

When Hana misses the way they did things before, her mum says that she moved to this country at Hana’s age, and there were a lot of changes then too—traditions and friends left behind, new friends and experiences discovered. When Hana’s mail-order hanbok doesn’t fit, she comes up with a sweet solution that blends new and old—perfect for this year’s celebration.

Lively illustrations enhance this story of creating new traditions and finding community. Back matter includes the history and a description of hanboks, as well as details about Chuseok.