Title: No Kimchi for Me!
Author: Aram Kim
Illustrator: Aram
Kim
Target Ages: 3-8
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Publisher Summary:
Yoomi hates stinky, spicy kimchi. So her brothers call her a baby and refuse to
play with her. But Yoomi is NOT a
baby! Maybe if she tires it on a
chocolate chip cookie…
This coming-of-age story celebrates family, food, and Korean
culture.
First Lines:
It’s time for lunch!
Yoomi loves Grandma’s dried seaweed, tiny anchovies, soft
egg omelets…even her seasoned bean sprouts!
But Yoomi does not like stinky spicy kimchi!
Evaluation:
No Kimchi for Me
introduces children to diverse cuisine.
The foods described (seaweed, anchovies, bean sprouts, and, in
particular, kimchi) are an opportunity for many to learn about another culture
as well as a chance for Korean children to see their familiar foods celebrated.
Yoomi’s aversion to a food her family enjoys is one that
kids in any culture can identify with. I
was not a persnickety eater, but there were a couple family staples I abhorred
as a child (creamed corn and baked beans being the two most memorable). While the kimchi is a cultural specific food,
the illustrations (anthropomorphic cats) and theme (fussy eating) are
universal. Discussing this issue is one
way to illustrate to children we are more alike than different.
Yoomi is teased by her brothers. They call her a “baby” and leave her out of
their activities. The teasing, while not
desirable, is realistic. In most
families, there is playful and some times competitive banter between siblings. While
teasing is generally not a desirable response, it does prompt Yoomi to get over
her picky preferences. Parents and teachers can discuss alternative ways the
brothers could have responded.
Ultimately, Yoomi is perseverant. Even though her initial impression of kimchi
is negative, she does not refuse to try it again. Instead, she attempts to enjoy it on some of
her favorite foods. (I learned to like
creamed corn after mixing it with mashed potatoes.) None of her combinations are tasty
though.
Her clever and patient grandmother saves the day by making a
special kimchi pancake recipe. Yoomi is
celebrated as a “big girl” as her family gathers around the table, sharing the
big kimchi pancake! The feeling of
community and personal accomplishment is conveyed.
Once she conquers this food feat, she joins in games with
her older brothers. Yoomi now feels
both more grown up as well as part of her cultural heritage.
I recommend No Kimchi
for Me for your class or home library.
Activities and
Extension Ideas for Lesson Plans:
Make Kimchi Pancakes with Aram Kim (Recipe in Book)
Love that it is cats portrayed here and that the kid does not like kimchi (I love it!) Have you tried the recipe in the book?
ReplyDeleteNo. Not yet. I plan to. :)
DeleteI've tried kimchi before and maybe, like Yoomi, I need to experiment with recipes until I find a way to prepare it that I love. This is a story children and adults will easily relate to. I think everyone's been served something they wish they could cover in ice cream to improve.
ReplyDeleteIf only ice cream improved all dishes. :)
DeleteI've never tried kimchi before. Didn't realize it is a Korean dish, which really contributes to this story. But every kid is picky, which makes this a great discussion book. I didn't like hot dogs, milk, or Spam.
ReplyDeleteI am ashamed now that I loved hot dogs and spam as a child. LOL I actually ate many things I will not eat now because they are not nutritious.
Delete