★ "Lively language honors long-honed skills worth remembering, while ink and gouache spreads capture every detail, right down to labels hand-painted on the soba boxes, in this wonderfully specific snapshot." —Publishers Weekly, starred review
★ "A fascinating, loving snapshot of a gravity-defying artform lost to time." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★ "With vivid descriptions of the sights and sounds of the city, the text sets readers right down in the middle of the scenes, while the writing makes for an animated read-aloud." —The Horn Book, starred review
★ “Delectably charming … The duo repeat their symbiotic success, nourishing readers with quotidian history ‘worth remembering and celebrating.’”
—Shelf Awareness, starred review
★ “Words and art come together seamlessly to reveal a world now long gone, in a loving, memorable tale that children will want to savor time and again.”
—BookPage, starred review
"This is a heartwarming tale with an engaging story and beautiful illustrations that are sure to entertain children." —School Library Journal
The wait is finally over — the 2025 ALA Youth Media Awards are here. Every year, the American Library Association gathers to present these prestigious awards, including the Newbery, Caldecott and Coretta Scott King Awards. These prize winners are the books that shape childhoods, give new perspectives to budding readers, and start a lifelong love […]