February 1, 2023
Get ready for ramen, handmade to order and delightful to devour! Hiro, a Japanese boy with beige skin and straight, dark hair, loves ramen. Every Sunday night, his father makes this flavorful noodle dish using a process he learned from his father in Hawaii. Hiro carefully observes how his dad gathers ingredients and vigorously stirs, chops, slices, stews, shreds, and more--creating the perfect broth and nice, springy noodles. When Hiro turns 7, he decides to try to make ramen just like his dad does, using his notes and his memory. However, things don't turn out as planned, and Hiro is devastated. At last, the boy finds his own talent for creating unique bowls that perfectly suit his family's tastes. Pate's spirited, manga-esque illustrations feature diagonal panels and dynamic text (accompanied by near-flawless Japanese translations) rendered in a vibrant palette of eye-catching yellows, blues, greens, and oranges. Tanumihardja's simple yet evocative prose draws readers into the drama and tension of the ramen making and brings to life Hiro's loving, understanding family; this is a rich depiction of a Japanese child offering a modern take on a traditional dish. Backmatter includes background on the dish, rules for cooking in the kitchen with young chefs, and a recipe for easy miso ramen. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A celebration of the complexity and care that go into making this Japanese staple. (Picture book. 4-8)
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February 15, 2023
Preschool-Grade 2 Whether with seaweed, egg, or pork, Hiro loves ramen and wants to make his own perfect bowl one day. In the meantime, the boy observes his father, who learned to make ramen from his father while growing up in Hawaii. Action-packed panels in a graphic-novel style, accentuated with action verbs (chops, simmers, steeps, etc.), briefly turn Hiro's dad into a culinary champion. On his seventh birthday, Hiro thinks he's ready to continue the tradition, but in his action scenes, disaster ensues with bland broth, soggy noodles, and unfit toppings. Just when he's ready to give up, his father reminds him that ramen doesn't need to be perfect. With new resolve, Hiro makes ramen with "superspecial" toppings perfect for each family member (cheese for Mom, Asian pears for his sister, and pineapple for Dad), realizing that he simply hasn't achieved flavorful broth or springy noodles--yet. Cookbook author Tanumihardja concludes her children's debut with a short history of ramen, kitchen tips, and an easy miso-ramen recipe. A hearty serving of Japanese cuisine, resilience, and family fun.
COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
February 27, 2023
Hiro loves ramen so much, “he wants to make the perfect bowl.” The noodle dish is part of his ancestry—his grandfather ran a ramen shop in Hawaii, where his father also learned the family recipe. Now, each week, Hiro sits nearby as his father makes ramen, taking notes, “studying Dad’s technique,” and learning how to create the noodles and broth from scratch. On Hiro’s seventh birthday, he decides, “I’m a big boy now. I’m going to make the perfect bowl of ramen.” Tanumihardja’s picture book debut encouragingly, practically shows how much hard work goes into the food’s preparation (“The noodles should be soft and springy... just like your earlobe!”), leaving room for Hiro to try, try again, and at last put a personal spin on the traditional dish. Pate’s sumi ink, pencil, and digital illustrations reproduce packaged ramen’s colorful, cartoony designs, establishing a cheerfully chaotic tone across action-oriented panels. Back matter includes a ramen recipe. All characters cue as Japanese. Ages 4–8.