Dumpling Day

A community of neighbors is preparing for a multicultural dumpling party in town. They and their children represent a variety of ethnicities from all over the world. They labor all day, creating culinary masterpieces, each representing their country of origin. One family makes delicious Indian samosas, while another bakes homemade apple dumplings, an American classic. Another prepares Japanese gyoza, while still another cooks up some Russian pelmeni, adding yet another authentic dish to the mix. Finally, the time arrives for the feast to begin. All gather for an exciting day of food and festivities, their Dumpling Day.

This is a unique story that centers on culture and community. The recipes for the entrees are even included at the end of the book. Children will be intrigued by the novelty of them and will likely ask to attempt a few.

The rhyming prose makes this an appealing treat for young ones, especially those between the ages of four and eight. The author creatively weaves numbers and arithmetic into the storyline: “One dumpling before, then we add one more. How many dumplings now? Two!” This adds a fun twist for those learning early math skills. It’s a great pick for beginning readers as well.