Chinese Menu – The History, Myths, and Legends Behind Your Favorite Foods by Grace Lin
Springfield-Greene County Library's (SGCL) catalog places this item in Juvenile non-fiction - cooking.
Target age within SGCL's catalog is between eight and twelve, and search results pertaining to Chinese cooking, history, food, and cooking in general would include this book.
How were chopsticks invented? Grace Lin answers that and many other questions by taking readers on an unforgettable journey that combines Chinese food, culture, and history! Lin brings cultural icons to life by describing how now-common attributes originated, but also explains proper protocol (i.e, properly holding and placing chopsticks). Readers will discover the origins of oolong tea, wonton soup, spring rolls, chop suey, rice, noodles, and quintessentially, fortune cookies, and the colorful characters readers meet!
I chose Chinese Menu for a few reasons. First, it combines two personal passions: history and food! Second, in the interest of diversity and inclusion, this book dissolves cultural barriers by describing fundamental cultural attributes. Third, I was looking for a cookbook that was written with the target audience in mind - captivating illustrations aptly describe specific cultural attributes, and strongly entices readers to continue reading.
For Chinese Menu, I will be evaluating pacing, setting, and accuracy.
Combining food with fables creates wonderful stories that captivates readers while engaging in cultural elements - explaining how several Chinese dishes came to be associated with their culture. In juxtaposing the book's pace against that of a restaurant setting: drinks (tea), appetizers, soup, entre, and dessert, I thought this book's pace was well-suited as when dining - one does not like feeling rushed. As with dining, reading this story encourages readers to enjoy and savor cultural and culinary experiences within each chapter, introduced by enticing illustrations.
The numerous settings are aptly-suited for the topics addressed originate from the numerous provinces, and are indicative, with each chapter's introductory illustration being subtle, yet tempting, greatly aiding in establishing settings. By introducing the chapters with illustrations of fables and folklore, readers easily transition into chapter's topics with a reference to guide them providing points of origin. These fables coinciding with important cultural elements, reinforce each setting while preserving cultural legacy, adding credibility to the author.
Accuracy is crucial to non-fiction, depicting food, culture, and history - details must be stated correctly, and in a manner fitting the age group so readers can relate, but also recommend! While depicting fables and lore, it is important to relay facts pertaining to people and places accurately so as not to confuse readers whom encounter information from other sources. As Chinese Menu analyzes so many elements central to culture, accuracy is essential to establishing author credibility, and is a substantial factor behind Grace Lin being nominated and winning prestigious awards.
Lin, G. (2023). Chinese menu: The history, myths, and Legends behind your favorite foods. Little, Brown.
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