Praise for Fried Rice Surprise

In this warm follow-up to Ramen for Everyone, a mother delights her daughter, Fern, daily with delicious and beautifully packed lunches. When Fern invites friends to her home for lunch, her mother reveals a secret: her impressive lunches are made from leftovers! Introducing the Japanese concept of mottainai-loosely translated as "waste not, want not"-this foodie tale shows off just how special creatively ­combined leftovers can be. Warm illustrations baked with watercolorlike softness create a cozy atmosphere in the kitchen; exaggerated, fantastical images-like Fern's friends floating against brilliantly colored backgrounds while juggling ingredients or riding the scent of fried rice to the lunch table-add ­excitement and charm. With Mom's ­guidance, the friends combine old ­ingredients in ­different ways, creating a whole new dish to share. Fern and her mother appear East Asian; Fern's friends' skin tones and taste preferences suggest a ­distinct cultural background for each. ­VERDICT This celebration of ­economical cooking and the magic of a communal kitchen should find a home in most library collections.
School Library Journal




About the Author

Patricia Tanumihardja was born in Jakarta to Chinese-Indonesian parents and grew up in Singapore, where she developed a lifelong love of food and storytelling. She is the author of several cookbooks highlighting pan-Asian flavors as well as children’s picture books that celebrate the connections between food, culture, and community, including Ramen for Everyone and Fried Rice Surprise. She now lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and son, where she continues to write and cook with equal passion. Shiho Pate was born and raised in Japan and worked for over a decade in the indie gaming industry in New York before turning to children’s books, where she brings her signature playful style to life using gouache, watercolor, and digital media. Now based in Southern California, she has illustrated numerous picture books that sparkle with warmth, humor, and cultural richness, including Fried Rice Surprise and the beginning reader series The Rescues, also from Red Comet Press.

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