Dim Sum Palace
by X. Fang; illus. by the author
Preschool, Primary    Tundra    48 pp.
9/23    9781774881989    $18.99
e-book ed.  9781774881996    $10.99

Liddy’s excitement about a family trip to the Dim Sum Palace keeps her wide awake. “Is it a real palace? Will I meet an empress?” Getting out of bed, she follows a delicious smell that leads her to the very establishment “and into a kitchen where she found two busy chefs making dim sum.” Liddy is small, and the nighttime kitchen, its dim sum wonders, and the two chefs are huge, an entertaining homage to Sendak’s In the Night Kitchen. She falls into a bowl of dumpling filling and is “folded and pinched” until “she looked good enough to eat!” In fact, she’s served to the empress; luckily, Liddy catches the empress’s attention and, instead of being eaten, is welcomed as a guest. The story’s heartwarming ending embraces the magic of family and the joy of sharing meals. Fang’s playful storytelling and vibrant illustrations capture the essence of childhood wonder and imagination. The beautifully decorated endpapers showcase forty different dim sum dishes, further immersing readers in the culinary experience. A delightful celebration of food, culture, and family traditions.

From the September/October 2023 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.