On Saturdays, Korean American Juna is Appa’s “little helper” at their dry cleaning shop. When Mr. Parker’s expensive coat goes missing, Juna offers to help find it. But instead, Appa wants Juna to “please just sit still” while he searches. As she makes a lost-jacket poster, Juna imagines herself in the nest of a “giant appa rhea bird” who offers to keep her warm, just as he does his eggs, and hums her a song. Juna tries to hum the song to Appa, but he brushes her off, still looking for the coat. Fishing through a basket of clothes for the missing item, Juna imagines herself in a pond with a water bug who carries his eggs on his back to protect them. But a frustrated Appa snaps at Juna when she climbs playfully onto his back. Juna escapes to an imaginary forest, where a Darwin’s frog explains that “parents show love in lots of different ways.” (He swallows his tadpoles to keep them safe.) At Appa’s worried call, Juna returns to reality and offers to give her New Year money to Mr. Parker. Touched by the gesture, Appa assures Juna that they will look for the coat on Monday. Feeling warm and safe in his affection, Juna walks with her father to the taco truck for lunch, as always. Realistic moments of frustration and hurt feelings cannot negate the love and caring between father and daughter. Highly Commended, 2023 Charlotte Zolotow Award ©2022 Cooperative Children’s Book Center     (Age 3-7)

From the creators of the award-winning picture book Juna's Jar, comes a new magical tale where Juna embarks on a journey to help her biggest hero--her Appa!

Juna enjoys helping her father in their dry-cleaning shop on Saturdays. It's their special time together.

One day Juna sees a customer yelling at Appa about a lost jacket. Juna has never seen her father look so worried and becomes determined to help. She sets off on a magical journey in search of the jacket, and along the way meets remarkable animals that show her the different ways that fathers care for their young.

Juna and Appa is a tender ode to fathers and to the many families working behind shop counters.