Dumpling Dreams: How Joyce Chen Brought the Dumpling from Beijing to Cambridge

Joyce Chen (born in Beijing in 1917 as Liao Jia-ai) made a name for herself in Cambridge, Mass., and later across the U.S. through her restaurants, cookbooks, and TV show, Joyce Chen Cooks. In chirpy couplets, Clickard follows Chen's childhood infatuation with cooking, her later move to the U.S. with her husband and growing family, and her expanding culinary empire. Wu's brightly colored digital artwork maintains a cheerful mood, even during moments of nervousness or uncertainty. The clipped verse can't always do justice to major events in Chen's life ("Troubles come. War in the news./ The heart of China split in two./ Days of worry, nights of fear--/ even dumplings taste of tears"), but a detailed timeline fills in some context, along with other resources. Ages 4-8. Author's agent: Tricia Lawrence, Erin Murphy Literary. Illustrator's agent: Jennifer Mattson, Andrea Brown Literary. (Sept.)

K-Gr 2--A picture book biography about Joyce (born Liao Jia-ai) Chen, who is credited with bringing the dumpling to the United States. Through appealing digitally rendered illustrations and upbeat rhyming text, Clickard celebrates the life of Chen in a way that entertains and informs. The narrative begins with Chen's life as a child in China and then quickly transitions to her early adulthood as she marries, has children, and moves to the United States, eventually settling in Cambridge, MA. The text gently touches on the Chinese Communist Revolution: "The heart of China split in two." (This may prompt students to ask about Chen's family leaving China, but further information about the time period can be found in the time line in the back matter.) Her name change is also glossed over. Chen would go on to first popularize Chinese cuisine in her community through a restaurant and then in the larger United States through a cookbook and TV show. A recipe for making dumplings at home is also included in the back matter. Fans of Lynne Barasch's Hiromi's Hands, Susanna Reich's Minette's Feast: The Delicious Story of Julia Child and Her Cat, and Jacqueline Briggs Martin and June Jo Lee's Chef Roy Choi and the Street Food Remix will find much to enjoy here. VERDICT Though picture book biographies with a culinary theme are many, Clickard's title is a charming addition.--Celia Dillon, The Brearley School, New York