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The Blue Bowl

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

A young boy realizes, thanks to his family, that he can enjoy both his Chinese and North American cultures through his favorite dishes

Max loves his family's Cantonese meals, like steamed rice and gai lan greens with oyster sauce, homemade dumplings, and scallion bread. But sometimes he can't help thinking about French fries, tacos, and ice cream with rainbow sprinkles.

For his birthday dinner, Max is really hoping for spaghetti and meatballs, but instead he and his family are headed to Maa Maa and Ye Ye's house for a celebration dinner—and Max is pretty sure that spaghetti won't be served in the familiar blue bowls that came all the way from Hong Kong with his grandparents. But Max is delighted to discover that his understanding family has discovered a way to bring two cultures together with delicious dishes that are a combination of all the foods he loves.

Based on the author's own experiences growing up, The Blue Bowl will speak to many children and adults alike with similar experiences and bring a new perspective to those who do not share in this experience. With deliciously eye-catching illustrations and descriptive, inviting text, readers will be reminded of all their favourite foods as they follow along with Max's story.

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    • School Library Journal

      July 12, 2024

      K-Gr 3-Readers start with a birthday, Max's sister's, and end with a birthday, Max's, and in between witness an array of sensory descriptions of fabulous food, laid out in hyper-flattened, digital illustrations that are as charming as the small, blue bowls his grandparents brought to this country from Hong Kong. Like a child's typical day, there is no real arc to these pages. Table after table groans with fragrant dishes as Max's yearning swings from family-style traditional dishes to some of his non-Asian favorite foods: spaghetti and other treats from his beloved Italian restaurant and rainbow-sprinkled cakes tall with frosting. That cake vies for his attention with the not-as-sweet mango cake his aunties bring. Leung creates a welcoming world where all dishes are delicious, all the relatives smile over abundant food, and a small boy is only too aware of the difficulties of navigating tastes and cultures. VERDICT Crammed with food, family, and love; this is a book for any child straddling the old world and the new one.-Kimberly Olson Fakih

      Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • Kirkus

      March 15, 2024
      Max's birthday is coming up--will he be able to enjoy the foods he loves? Max, a young boy of Chinese descent, is adept at reading cues from the kitchen. Tonight he smells garlic, basil, and melting cheese and knows that the family will be having spaghetti and meatballs, his favorite. The next night, Max sets the table with blue-and-white bowls and smells ginger and sesame, all of which means his relatives will be coming, and they'll probably be eating congee, "not-too-sweet" desserts, sizzling stir-fry, and dumplings. While he appreciates these Cantonese dishes, Max "can't help thinking about other foods he likes," such as tacos and pizza. On Max's birthday, he wishes he could go to an Italian restaurant and eat cake with vanilla frosting and sprinkles, but the family's plan for dinner at his grandparents' place likely means they'll be having Chinese food. Surrounded by loved ones, Max is pleasantly surprised by the meal his cousins have prepared: a fusion of Italian and Chinese cuisine, with a birthday mango cake complete with vanilla frosting and sprinkles--all served from the blue-and-white dishes his grandparents brought with them when they emigrated from Hong Kong. The straightforward narrative--a loving example of how young people can make room for multiple cultures--is accompanied by large textured blocks of colors layered with simple lines and shapes that add to the overall charm of the tale. A heartwarming story of love and food. (Picture book. 5-8)

      COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

    • The Horn Book

      January 1, 2024
      Max loves his family's Cantonese food but wishes he could celebrate his birthday at an Italian restaurant. Instead, his extended family gathers at his grandparents' house where Cantonese specialties -- served in blue bowls his grandparents brought from Hong Kong -- are on the menu...along with some delicious fusion recipe surprises. Friendly illustrations accompany this celebration of culture and family.

      (Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Formats

  • OverDrive Read

Languages

  • English

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