★ 05/31/2021
Employing the 13-course structure of a traditional kaiseki meal, Michalak and Florence profile Japanese American chef Niki Nakayama, whose Los Angeles restaurant N/Naka holds two Michelin stars. In 13 “Bites,” the duo follows Nakayama through food-centered memories, including bonding moments with her grandmother, embarking on a post-high school Tokyo food tour, and trying and then studying kaiseki at a cousin’s ryokan. “There, Niki was served a meal of/ many courses. One by one,/ the dishes flowed like a stream,” much like the book’s prose. Mixed media and digital art by Jones make each vignette atmospheric, with varying angles and insets, toothsome details, and watercolor washes. This biography aptly emphasizes the sexism that trailblazer Nakayama faces, both in the male-dominated restaurant industry at large and as “perhaps the world’s only female kaiseki chef.” Back matter includes a timeline of Nakayama’s life, explanations of kuyashii and kaiseki, and a recipe for wonton pizzas. Ages 4–8. (Sept.)
A Junior Library Guild Selection!
A CBC Best Children's Book!
A Bank Street Best Book of the Year!
Chicago Public Library's Best of the Best of 2021!
A Mighty Girl Book of the Year!
CBC Notable Book — Social Studies!
Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award Nominee!
"In 13 'Bites,' the duo follows Nakayama through food-centered memories, including bonding moments with her grandmother, embarking on a post-high school Tokyo food tour, and trying and then studying kaiseki at a cousin’s ryokan. 'There, Niki was served a meal of/ many courses. One by one,/ the dishes flowed like a stream,' much like the book’s prose. Mixed media and digital art by Jones make each vignette atmospheric, with varying angles and insets, toothsome details, and watercolor washes." —Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Art, storytelling, and food work together on so many levels in this beautiful tale about master chef Niki Nakayama’s life... Young readers will be inspired." Booklist, starred review
"The meticulously detailed illustrations highlight the food, experiences, and Japanese culture. Included at the end are a timeline of Nakayama’s life, deeper explanations of the concepts of kuyashii and kaiseki, and a recipe for wonton pizza. A flavorful, inspirational biography of a woman who showed the world what she could cook up." —Kirkus Reviews
"Determined heroine, delightful story, delectable illustrations: Both young readers and their adults will be inspired and charmed by every spread of this book." —Linda Sue Park, Newbery Medalist and New York Times-bestselling author
09/01/2021
K-Gr 3—Well-chosen details in this picture book biography chart a young chef's development as she forges her own path using food to tell her story. Growing up in her family's Los Angeles home where Japanese traditions were observed, it seemed to Niki that her two cultures became one in the kitchen. On holidays, her family ate teriyaki turkey, with ever-present rice. Young Niki enjoyed experimenting and inventing new recipes, but her parents and others scoffed at her dream of becoming a chef. Undaunted, she attended culinary school, interned with a sushi chef, and traveled to Japan. A not-to-scale map traces Niki's trip, sampling foods in Tokyo, then traveling by bullet train to the countryside ryokan (traditional inn) owned by her cousins. At the ryokan, she encountered kaiseki, cuisine focused on fresh, seasonal foods. Back in the United States, and with her family's backing, Niki opened a sushi restaurant. Her hard work led to success, and won her parents' approval. Eventually, Niki made the difficult decision to close the restaurant in order to open a new one, n/naka, featuring her innovative version of kaiseki. Now a Michelin-starred chef, Niki's elegant dishes are "art and story—her story." Back matter includes a time line, further explanation of Japanese terms. and Niki's recipe for wonton pizza. VERDICT This empowering picture book biography is both lively and thoughtful, and a strong choice for primary grade readers who enjoy exploring culture through food, as in Salma the Syrian Chef by Danny Ramadan.—Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills P.L., CA
2021-07-14
Niki Nakayama is a renowned chef who found her voice through food.
Opening with an illustration of Nakayama in her restaurant kitchen, her story is told in 13 “bites,” each depicted as a double-page spread, beginning in Los Angeles, where Niki was born. Mixing cultures, her Japan-born parents fused their Japanese culture with American food. As she grew up, she desired to make her own life story through imagination, exploration, and invention. No one believed she, a girl, could be a success. Her response was “Kuyashii!” (translated as “I’ll show them!”), a frustration with these doubts that drove her to work harder. She traveled to Japan, where she discovered kaiseki—a multiple-course meal that told a story, which steered her toward the culinary world. Using her creativity and hard work, she finally opened up her own restaurant, where she was free to cook in her own way, sharing her life story through her dishes. Niki Nakayama set out to show her family and the world what she could do, and she did. This brief biography captures Nakayama’s sense of exploration and her determination to follow her passion and dreams. The meticulously detailed illustrations highlight the food, experiences, and Japanese culture. Included at the end are a timeline of Nakayama’s life, deeper explanations of the concepts of kuyashii and kaiseki, and a recipe for wonton pizza. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A flavorful, inspirational biography of a woman who showed the world what she could cook up. (Picture book/biography. 4-8)
