Praise for Fried Rice Surprise

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. ­VERDICT This celebration of ­economical cooking and the magic of a communal kitchen should find a home in most library collections.
School Library Journal

With gently glowing backlit illustrations, Pate's full-page spreads come to life and exquisitely capture the transformative process of cooking.Inventive use of perspective lends motion to the actions of chopping and stirring, while an extensive range of character expressions denote the simple pleasure of eating... the picture book retains a classic overall message-demonstrating food's near-magical ability to bring people together regardless of their differences.... Recommended.
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

". . . (a) creative culinary treat . . . Adorned with splashes of punchy colors and graceful brushstrokes, every page is an appetizing testament to the magic of cooking and its ability to foster cross-cultural and familial connection."
Booklist

A tasty book about friendship and flavors that will whet readers' appetites and inspire culinary creativity. . . . a delicious treat for young readers, urging them to cook, create and conserve, while valuing a multitude of flavors and friendships.
Bookpage

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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