The Children’s Book Review | February 16, 2018
Written by Jung Hee Kim
Illustrated by Jung Ah Noh
Age Range: 4 and up
Hardback: 35 pages
Publisher: Tan Tan Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-939248-23-7
What to expect: Chinese Cuisine, Festivals, Family
It’s time for the Mid-Autumn Festival in China, and Shao Ming can’t wait to celebrate with her family. But first her mother gives her an important task: deliver the treasured family wok to her uncle’s house for that night’s feast.
Shao Ming gladly takes on the chore, but along the way she sees so much. The market is filled with delicious looking food stalls, and the wok is getting heavy to hold. Then a fanciful dragon heads up a parade, and Shao Ming puts down the wok for just a moment to watch. But when she goes to pick it up, it is lost! Shao Ming runs from place to place looking for her mother’s beautiful wok with the hand-carved dragon in the handle. First she stops at a Szechuan restaurant, where she tries MaPo Tofu. It’s delicious, but no wok. A kind tea shop owner helps her draw a picture of the wok, and Shao Ming continues her journey. She stops for a fantastic steamed crab lunch and then a Dim Sum restaurant. Still, no luck. Finally, she comes to her uncle’s house to be surprised with the family wok! Her aunt found it at the parade, and brought it home safely. Shao Ming is so relieved that her family wok was saved, and that she can enjoy the crispy Peking Duck with her mother and family in peace. What a happy Mid-Autumn Festival.
This is a delightful book about Chinese cuisine and a sweet girl’s adventure. Your heart immediately goes out to the little girl. Everyone remembers losing something important when they were younger! But she keeps trying to find it, looking all over the city and making friends along the way. The illustrations are bright and colorful, extremely detailed and fanciful. The illustrations of food are so delicious you’ll want to go out for your own Dim Sum brunch with the family. Children will enjoy learning about different kinds of Chinese food, as well as the historical facts sprinkled within the illustrations. At the end of the book there is an excellent Quick Guide to China, as well as a section about Chinese cuisine.
Great as both a story and introductory guide to Chinese culture and cuisine, this is an excellent addition to any child’s library.
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About The Author
Jung Hee Kim has also written Transform… into Poop! The Story of Puffy Clouds, and Another Set of Eyes, among others.
About The Illustrator
Jung Ah Noh studied art in college, completing the Han Gyuh Rae Illustrator course and Hills Academy Post Program. She has illustrated, My Friend, Ggam Jee, History of the World of Time Capsules, Oh, I See…Our History, I Can Do It Well, Peach Boy, and more.
Find Mom’s Wok, written by Jung Hee Kim and illustrated by Jung Ah Noh, was reviewed by Denise Mealy. Discover more books like Escargot by following along with our reviews and articles tagged with Books About China, Family, Food, Introduction To Cultures, and Picture Book.