Dumpling Soup [Paperback]

Jama Kim Rattigan (Author)

Book Description

Grade Level: P and up

Marisa gets to help make dumplings this year to celebrate the New Year. But she worries if anyone will eat her funny-looking dumplings. Set in the Hawaiian islands, this story celebrates the joyful mix of food, customs, and languages from many cultures.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A girl helps her "chop suey" (mixed up) family make the dumplings for their traditional New Year's Eve meal, in this slice of Korean-Chinese-Japanese-Hawaiian-Anglo life. "As warm and comforting as homemade soup," said PW. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-A large, loving Hawaiian family gathers to celebrate the new year with Marisa making mandoo, or dumplings, a traditional holiday feast. Told from the seven-year-old child's breathless point of view, the event is also a tribute to diversity. The Yang family, like much of the population of Hawaii, includes members of Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Hawaiian, and haole (white) descent. And everyone loves mandoo, especially the funny-looking ones that Marisa makes. Though the text is low-key, the characters and their affection for one another are infectious. Cluttered, lively, full-color illustrations in a style reminiscent of Marylin Hafner's work are packed with detail and children. Domestic groupings of all sorts will keep young eyes busy trying to identify which cousin is which. The pages are so full of activity that they often bleed entirely off the page. Any child who loves family gatherings will identify with this book, and teachers will welcome it for its inclusive approach. Though lengthy to read to a young group, the story will be relished by older primary-aged children for reading aloud and by independent readers, too.
Carolyn Noah, Central Mass. Regional Library System, Worcester, MA
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (April 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316730475
• ISBN-13: 978-0316730471
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 0.2 x 10.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #527,339 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #42 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Issues > Multiculturalism
  • #71 in Books > Children's Books > Social Situations > Multiculturalism
  • #82 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Multicultural Stories > Asian & Asian American

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable peek at Asian-American life and family celebration, February 17, 1999

By 

C. Crocker (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dumpling Soup (Library Binding)

Dumpling Soup is both well-written and beautifully illustrated. Within the context of a simple story, (little girl, family celebration) Jama Kim Rattigan has managed to interweave such issues as: rite of passage, diversity and multiculturalism, and familial strength. I did not find the story "didactic" in the least; it and its illustrations are enjoyable and refreshing. The book provides children with (rare) exposure to Korean-, Japanese- and Hawaiian-American cultures, while utilizing themes common to all cultures. A must/fun read for all!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Celebration of Cultures, April 12, 2002

By 

Matthew M. Yau "Voracious reader" (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dumpling Soup (Paperback)

Jama Kim Rattigan's vivid, volorful picture book brings us to the Hawaiian islands. Women in a Korean family gather together and celebrate New Year. As part of a family tradition, the cheerful clan make dumplings for the feast. Seven-year-old Marisa is old enough to help out with the wrappings. Little Marisa, however, worries about the shape of her dumplings and feels insecure about how her concoction might not measure up with other dumplings. Marisa's Granny decides to cheer up and encourage her little princess. Granny features Marisa's dumplings as starters at the dinner table on New Year's Day. Dumpling Soup is more than a picture book-it is a celebration of cultures that have rooted in the Hawaiian Islands: Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Hawaiians.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars reminds me of my family, December 18, 2005

By 

S. Moore "Mom of 2" (TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dumpling Soup (Paperback)

I am technically first generation american. This story reminds me of our tradition of making mochi for soupto eat on New Year's Day. The pictures are WONDERFUL and the story is great. Thanks for writing about a topic that isn't often written about!