I really liked this story for several reasons. The book is written in both English and Mandarin, so students that have recently moved to America from China can read this story in their classroom. The frequent use of dialogue makes this story engaging and makes you feel as if you are part of the family. The children in the Kang family are relatable to children of all cultures because they are playful, silly, and creative. They try and help their parents, but find ways to get into trouble. Almost every child has these personality traits and has had these experiences, which makes the story of the Kang family even more engaging. The big idea of this story is that children do not have to wait until adulthood to make a positive contribution to society. In this book, this is shown when they are scolded because they “messed up” their mom’s cooking, but actually won a contest because they invented noodles. Although the story of now noodles were invented is fictional, the facts at the end of the story about how this food spread across the globe were all true. There was also a page at the end of the story that gives the reader a brief history about noodles, which began thousands of years ago. The illustrations in this book look like old Chinese artwork that has been recreated, which contributes to the cultural theme of this story. Every small detail is included in these pictures, such as every leaf on a giant tree and every person’s face in a huge crowd. On the last two pages of the book, there is a recipe for “Long Life Noodles” that is written in both English and Mandarin. This means that American children could try this traditional Chinese dish and learn to appreciate a food that came from a different culture. Chinese students can also cook this meal with their Mandarin-speaking families in order to learn more about their own culture. I would definitely recommend this story for an elementary school classroom, especially classrooms with students from China. ( )

The genre of this book is historical fiction. It sounds like it could be based off a true story, so I think it is both fictional and informational. The pictures are hand-drawn and painted with oil-paint. The pictures are very colorful and inviting and make me want to keep reading. The book is about the Kang family who enters the annual cooking contest. Mama Kang is expected to win with her famous dumplings, but when she leaves the kitchen for a minute, her three boys turn it into a disaster. When she returns, her table is broken and there are strips of dough everywhere. Because she doesn't have enough time to start over and make her dumplings, she decides to enter the flour strips her sons call "eating a drumstick", "sucking a worm", and "cutting the grass". These are the different ways to eat the flour strips, which are now called noodles. The reading level is probably third grade. The curricular connections are: China, annual cooking contest, dumplings, flour strips, noodles, food fights, and inventions. ( )

Funny story about the mischievous Kang Brothers who stumble upon the invention of noodles. Compestine has other picture books about China worth checking out.

LOC Summary: "Left alone to prepare their family's prize winning dumplings for the cooking contest, the young kang boys accidentally invent a new dish, 'mian tiao', or noodles. Includes a cultural note and recipe for long-life noodles."
Wood cut like illustrations with vibrant colors. ( )

LOC Summary: "Left alone to prepare their family's prize winning dumplings for the cooking contest, the young kang boys accidentally invent a new dish, 'mian tiao', or noodles. Includes a cultural note and recipe for long-life noodles."
Wood cut like illustrations with vibrant colors. ( )