I am not a fan of spicy foods. Or should say, they are not a fan of me. Therefore, I get my “kick” reading books about spicy foods. Thankfully due to the plethora of books out there, you can find
almost any food you want. And two of these books I happened to find dealt with kimchi. A food I have wanted to try but know would do more than try me! Therefore, I will stick with the safe bet and keep reading.
The book No Kimchi for Me! probably has the answer to the way I could eat kimchi. Yoomi, a little cat, wants to eat kimchi like her big brothers, but it is just too spicy, causing her brothers to tease her. Our young character is determined to show that she is not a baby and will try anything to make it taste better. But even ice cream cannot help until Grandma has an idea to help Yoomi enjoy this Korean dish. This is a great book for your picky eater. It also opens the world of Korean-American culture to a wider audience. Aram Kim’s illustrations are reminiscent of Rosemary Wells lightness and fun but have a style all their own. The art shows you the yummy foods of Yoomi’s world and there is even a recipe for the kimchi pancakes that Grandma makes to save the day.
We then can enjoy the treat, Babies Can’t Eat Kimchee. This time, our narrator is the “big kid” and can do all sorts of things their younger sibling, the baby, cannot do. The baby cannot walk, eat kimchee, tell secrets, dance like a ballerina or even not make a loud fuss! However, this caring sibling knows that when the time is right, she will help that baby be a big kid, too. Nancy Patz’s story about siblings brings together the familiar of siblings with the culture of Korea. The page with Susan L. Roth’s drawing of the baby in her special dress on their first birthday is bold, bright and a delightful treat.
These books can be for all ages, but best for probably ages 5 and up. Of course, adults can gobble them up too. Perfect read aloud in a group setting or one-on-one.
