Luna and the Case of the Missing Mooncakes

by Natasha Yim, Violet Kim (Illustrator)

Overview

Celebrate diversity, math, and the power of storytelling!

A math picture book series for preschoolers and kindergarteners with relatable stories and part of little kids’ everyday experience.

Someone in the family is stealing mooncakes! Could it be big brother Kai? Luna’s other brother Benji? One of the cousins? Or maybe a grown-up? Detectives Luna and Mina search for clues and eliminate suspects during the Mid-Autumn Festival celebration. Can they catch the thief?

Storytelling Math celebrates children using math in their daily adventures as they play, build, and discover the world around them. Luna and the Case of the Missing Mooncakes is a playful exploration of logic, featuring Chinese American characters and includes a cultural note about the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781632894120
Publisher:	Charlesbridge
Publication date:	08/12/2025
Series:	Storytelling Math Series
Sold by:	Penguin Random House Publisher Services
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
Age Range:	3 - 6 Years

About the Author

Natasha Yim was born in Malaysia, grew up in Singapore and Hong Kong, and now lives in California. She is the author of many picture books, including Luna's Yum Yum Dim Sum and Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas.

World traveler Violet Kim studied illustration at Rhode Island School of Design and now lives in Taiwan. She is the illustrator of Luna's Yum Yum Dim Sum, The Little Gray Bunny, and many other picture books. www.violet-kim.format.com

Editorial Reviews

K-Gr 3–Young cousins come together for detective work to solve a puzzling mystery during a holiday gathering celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival. Just as the cousins begin playing their favorite game, they notice a mooncake is missing from the box that Mina brought. Luna, with tan skin and brown hair, dons oversized detective-like clothing to tackle an investigation into the pilfered pastry. Luna and Mina insightfully eliminate possible suspects and search for proof through clues that are cleverly placed into the story’s framework through the illustrations. As the plot unfolds, readers also become detectives, and the probability of discovering the yummy holiday food staple and after-dinner dessert is crucial to recovering the treat. Imagination along with a well-crafted scenario create a palpable mystery that is quite palatable, as readers crave the suspense from page to page while attempting to link clues to solve the mystery. Luna’s diverse family includes grown-ups, siblings, and cousins with various hair colors and skin tones. Combining witty plot development and humor raveled with clues embedded inside the illustrations, this story encourages young mystery lovers to learn to develop assessments, make informed decisions, and collaborate with others. VERDICT This joyful whodunit encourages critical and analytical thinking, as well as problem-solving skills and awareness using a recognizable extended family structural setting.
—School Library Journal

From the Publisher