A young Chinese American girl, Jenny, finds herself facing a dilemma as she struggles with the slippery and tricky nature of chopsticks. With her cousin Victor’s birthday party approaching, along with her family’s annual chopsticks challenge, Jenny is determined not to be the only Chow who can’t use the utensils. Fueled by determination and creativity, Jenny embarks on a series of STEAM-powered experiments to conquer the chopsticks. From engineering contraptions to using scientific principles, Jenny explores various techniques to improve her skills, despite wobbling and fumbling along the way. With humor and charm, “Jenny Chow and the Chopsticks Challenge” celebrates perseverance, creativity, and the importance of family traditions in a multicultural context.
food
The Mochi Makers
In this heartwarming story, a young girl and her grandmother take joy in a timeless tradition that celebrates family, heritage, and the power of memory. As Emi and Obaachan come together to make mochi, they honor a recipe that has been passed down through generations. With each step, they mix, pound, twist, and wrap, transforming simple ingredients into sticky, chewy Japanese rice cakes bursting with color and flavor.
Through the joyous act of making mochi, Emi and Obaachan find solace in the shared experience, weaving threads of love and tradition into each bite. As they laugh, reminisce, and embrace the present moment, they discover that the true magic of mochi lies not only in its delicious taste but also in the bonds of family and the memories that endure.
Roses Sing On New Snow: A Delicious Tale
Maylin works hard cooking delicious meals in her father’s restaurant everyday, yet it is her lazy brothers who claim all credit. When the Governor of South China visits a contest is held in his honor and her brothers do not hesitate to try passing off Maylin’s cooking as their very own. Yet despite their best efforts – and the Governor’s as well! – they cannot replicate Maylin’s delicious dish. They soon learn that there is more to good cooking than right ingredients.
Winner of the Ruth Schwartz Children’s Book Award.
Ramen For Everyone
Hiro loves ramen. Every Sunday, Hiro’s dad makes delicious, perfect ramen for dinner, using a recipe passed down from his dad. There’s nori seaweed, briny like the ocean; nitamago egg, the yolk golden like the sun; and chashu pork so tender, it melts in your mouth. Hiro’s dream is to make his own perfect bowl, and he’s sure he can do it after watching his dad and taking notes. But when he gets started, things don’t go according to plan. The seaweed crumbles! The eggs slip through his fingers! The pork falls apart! Hiro is worried he’ll never be a real ramen chef but thanks to his father’s wise advice and his own creativity, Hiro discovers that every person’s perfect bowl of ramen is unique.
Plátanos Are Love
A delicious picture book about the ways plantains shape Latinx culture, community, and family, told through a young girl’s experiences in the kitchen with her abuela.
Dragon Noodle Party
“The animals of the zodiac gather one by one to make long life noodles for Snake’s birthday”–
Celebrate With Me!: Recipes, Crafts, And Holiday Fun From Around The World
“Celebrate at the tables of artists, designers, and chefs with this book that offers families the chance to share in a world of parties, festivals, and holidays. Each spread features a different holiday and offers a step-by-step recipe, a craft activity, a personal story, and different ways to observe the holiday. With contributions from chefs such as Erin Gleeson and Joanne Chang; artists and authors including Dow Phumiruk and Queenie Chan; and designers such as Marta Veludo and Juliet Sargeant, Celebrate with Me! brings together personal stories and parties from around the world in a unique and engaging way that is sure to delight children and their families”–
The Best Kind Of Mooncake
A girl’s ultimate decision has surprising, far-reaching consequences in this mostly true story that reminds us that even the smallest acts of kindness hold the power to change lives, for the giver as much as the receiver.
The Potato King
Once upon a time there was a Prussian King, Frederick, also known as Fritz, who saw potential in the lowly potato — a newly introduced crop from South America — and decided to plant it for his people. However, it quickly became clear that his subjects didn’t like being told what to eat. Determined to see the potato thrive, Fritz cleverly used reverse psychology to pique his people’s curiosity and make the crop popular, and the potato has flourished ever since. Potato-stamp illustrations throughout are simple and effective, exhibiting Niemann’s trademark wit and playfulness. The book includes a short informational note on the historical background to the story. Readers will be interested to discover how one of today’s most common foods likely rose to popularity and may also be inspired by the king’s creative problem solving
Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story
Told in lively and powerful verse by debut author Kevin Noble Maillard, Fry Bread is an evocative depiction of a modern Native American family, vibrantly illustrated by Pura Belpré Award winner and Caldecott Honoree Juana Martinez-Neal.
Please watch WOW’s Imagination Friday with the author and illustrator of Fry Bread.
This book is featured in WOW Currents: Big Events, Strong Emotions – Anxiety.
Featured in WOW Review, Volume XV, Issue 4.
Awards:
Winner of the 2020 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal
2020 American Indian Youth Literature Picture Book Honor Winner
National Public Radio (NPR) Best Book of 2019
NCTE Notable Poetry Book
2020 NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People
2020 ALA Notable Children’s Book
2020 ILA Notable Book for a Global Society