Dumpling Soup

Dumpling Soup follows seven-year-old Marisa as she prepares to help make dumplings for her family's New Year's celebration in Hawaii. The story takes place over New Year's Eve and Day, centering on the family's traditions of making mandoo, Korean dumplings. Marisa lives with her extended Korean-Chinese-Japanese-Hawaiian family on the island of Oahu. She wants to learn the skills passed down through generations, particularly the art of folding the mandoo dumplings that will be served at midnight. This children's book integrates Korean words and customs while depicting life in Hawaii during a holiday celebration. The illustrations show the family members working together in the kitchen and gathering for their festivities. The story captures themes of cultural identity, family bonds, and the passing down of traditions from one generation to the next. Through food preparation and celebration, it presents how different cultural influences can blend into a family's unique heritage.

"Dumpling Soup" by Jama Kim Rattigan is a beloved children's picture book that celebrates multicultural family traditions through the story of seven-year-old Marisa, who desperately wants to help make dumplings for her Korean-Hawaiian family's New Year celebration. First published in 1993, this warm family story has earned praise for its authentic portrayal of mixed-heritage identity and detailed illustrations by Lillian Hsu-Flanders. The book resonates with many readers who see their own multicultural experiences reflected in Marisa's story. Liked: • The authentic cultural details make the Hawaiian-Korean family feel genuine and lived-in, from the specific foods mentioned to the natural code-switching between languages that happens in multilingual households • Marisa's determination to contribute to the family tradition despite her young age creates a relatable character arc that many children will recognize from their own experiences wanting to help with grown-up tasks • The illustrations beautifully capture the warmth and chaos of a large extended family gathering, with each family member having distinct personality and the kitchen scenes feeling particularly lively and realistic • The resolution satisfyingly shows that even imperfect contributions have value, as Marisa's lumpy dumplings are embraced by her family rather than dismissed Disliked: • The pacing feels somewhat rushed in places, particularly in establishing the various family relationships, which can make it challenging for young readers to keep track of all the relatives • Some of the cultural explanations feel slightly forced rather than naturally woven into the narrative, occasionally interrupting the story's flow • The conflict resolves quite easily without much struggle, missing an opportunity to show more of Marisa's growth or the family working through generational differences about tradition and participation

Hot, Hot Roti for Dada-ji by F. Zia An Indian-American boy and his grandfather bond through cooking traditional food and sharing family stories.

Apple Pie 4th of July by Janet S. Wong A Chinese-American girl learns to blend cultural traditions when her immigrant parents keep their restaurant open on Independence Day.

Bee-bim Bop! by Linda Sue Park A Korean-American child helps her mother prepare a traditional meal while experiencing the excitement of cooking with family.

Cora Cooks Pancit by Dorina K. Lazo Gilmore A Filipino-American girl creates her family's signature noodle dish while learning about her heritage through cooking.

A Party in Ramadan by Asma Mobin-Uddin A young Muslim girl navigates cultural differences when she attends a birthday party while observing Ramadan with her family.

🥟 Author Jama Kim Rattigan drew from her own multicultural family experiences growing up in Hawaii to write this heartwarming story about celebrating diversity and tradition. 🌺 The book showcases the unique "local food" culture of Hawaii, where Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Hawaiian, and other culinary traditions blend together. 🎋 The main character Marisa's family celebrates New Year's by making both Korean mandoo and Chinese won ton dumplings, reflecting Hawaii's rich cultural fusion. 🗺️ The story takes place in Nuuanu Valley on the island of Oahu, a real location known for its lush landscape and diverse community. 👩‍👧 The grandmother character, Grandmother Lee (or "Grandma"), speaks in authentic "pidgin" English, the creole language commonly used in Hawaii.