ACCESS DIGITIZED EDITION
Guide/Reviews Database
PRESCHOOL
Iwai, Melissa

Dumplings for Lili

48 pp. | Norton | June, 2021 | Trade ISBN 978-1-324-00342-7 $17.95 | Ebook ISBN 978-1-324-00343-4 $17.48
(2) PS Lili's Nai Nai is out of cabbage for the baos she is making and sends her granddaughter off to see if Babcia, up on the sixth floor of her apartment building, has any. Yes, Babcia does, but she is out of potatoes for her pierogi and sends Lili to ask Granma down on the second floor. Granma has potatoes but needs garlic for her Jamaican beef patties. So off Lili goes to Abuela on the fourth floor for garlic. The pattern continues with Nonna (making ravioli) and Teta (making Lebanese fatayer). Lili finally returns to Nai Nai, tells her of her adventures, and helps finish the baos by lining the steamer basket with the (finally) procured cabbage leaves. When all the grandmothers arrive for an outdoor party, they are each carrying their various dumpling treasures. But where have Lili's mama and papa been all this time? Surprise! They come home with her new baby brother, "another little dumpling treasure!" Iwai employs a bright palette and effectively plays with perspective (as in Lili's dizzying glance down the building's stairwell). Especially entertaining are the scenes of Lili making baos with Nai Nai and the chart of Lili's journey, like a game board showing all the moves she has made. In their generosity and joy of cooking, Nai Nai and her friends are kindred spirits to the title character in Oge Mora's Thank You, Omu! (rev. 11/18). A detailed recipe for making baos is appended.
Reviewer: Dean Schneider | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2021

RELATED 

PRESCHOOL

The Farmer and the Circus
by Frazee, Marla
PRESCHOOL

Bird House
by Gómez, Blanca
PRESCHOOL

The Crow and the Peacock
by Fernihough, Jo
PRESCHOOL

Something's Wrong!
by John, Jory
PRESCHOOL

Grandpa Across the Ocean
by Yum, Hyewon
More

Get connected. Join our global community of more than 200,000 librarians and educators.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing.

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?