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SOY SAUCE!

Name: SOY SAUCE!
Author: Laura G. Lee
ISBN: 9781523528387

by Laura G. Lee ; illustrated by Laura G. Lee ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 7, 2025

A joyful ode to soy sauce that’s delicious to the last drop.

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Dip into the savory world of a beloved condiment.

“What does it take to make life…delicious?” The rich umami flavors of soy sauce, of course! In effervescent verse, three East Asian–presenting children share different ways of making the delectable condiment. Luan pops open soybeans to make a traditional Chinese soy sauce. Haru combines soy with toasty wheat for a Japanese variety. For spicy and sweet Korean flavors, Yoo-mi “mixes in jujubes and chilis.” Lee’s lively watercolor illustrations of the children gleefully celebrating each stage of the long process pair beautifully with the upbeat text for an informative, engaging story. Skillfully weaving together three different styles of making soy sauce, the author highlights the power of the ingredient to unite people and cultures. Mouthwatering depictions of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean dishes showcase the sauce’s contributions to Asian cuisine. Some of the rhymes are a bit tenuous, but the infectious enthusiasm that permeates the pages makes for a fun read-aloud. Some of the text is rendered in glossy, flowing soy sauce, which, along with the use of onomatopoeia, adds a whimsical touch and a sensory dimension to the reading experience. The book concludes with a history of the condiment, information on varieties from different East Asian and Southeast Asian countries, and a visual glossary.

A joyful ode to soy sauce that’s delicious to the last drop. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2025

ISBN: 9781523528387

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Little, Brown

Review Posted Online: Oct. 12, 2024

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2024

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S HEALTH & DAILY LIVING

- BOOK REVIEW
CAT EYES
by Laura G. Lee ; illustrated by Laura G. Lee

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WHY A DAUGHTER NEEDS A MOM

by Gregory R. Lange ; illustrated by Sydney Hanson ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2019

New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned.

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All the reasons why a daughter needs a mother.

Each spread features an adorable cartoon animal parent-child pair on the recto opposite a rhyming verse: “I’ll always support you in giving your all / in every endeavor, the big and the small, / and be there to catch you in case you should fall. / I hope you believe this is true.” A virtually identical book, Why a Daughter Needs a Dad, publishes simultaneously. Both address standing up for yourself and your values, laughing to ease troubles, being thankful, valuing friendship, persevering and dreaming big, being truthful, thinking through decisions, and being open to differences, among other topics. Though the sentiments/life lessons here and in the companion title are heartfelt and important, there are much better ways to deliver them. These books are likely to go right over children’s heads and developmental levels (especially with the rather advanced vocabulary); their parents are the more likely audience, and for them, the books provide some coaching in what kids need to hear. The two books are largely interchangeable, especially since there are so few references to mom or dad, but one spread in each book reverts to stereotype: Dad balances the two-wheeler, and mom helps with clothing and hair styles. Since the books are separate, it aids in customization for many families.

New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned. (Picture book. 4-8, adult)

Pub Date: May 1, 2019

ISBN: 978-1-4926-6781-0

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Review Posted Online: March 16, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS

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LITTLE BLUE TRUCK AND RACER RED

From the Little Blue Truck series

by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Jill McElmurry ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 25, 2025

A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.

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In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.

Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”

A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)