Noodle & Bao

Gr 4-6–Welcome to Town 99, a neighborhood inhabited by humans and anthropomorphic animals who coexist happily and share a love of all things food. Young Momo has grown up in Town 99 and loves visiting the fruit stands, parks, and the Noodle & Bao food cart run by her best friend, Bao, and their am-ah, Noodle Yi Yi. When a fancy new woman shows up to open a fancy new restaurant, appropriately called Fancé Café, not only does it threaten Noodle & Bao, but the future of the entire community. Momo’s parents are worried about making rent, Bao and Noodle are worried about the food cart, and the community is worried about its future. Despite the undercurrents of the stressful situation of losing one’s home or business, the book remains upbeat, with an indefatigable Momo learning to accept help along the way. Working together, they make a stand and develop a new fusion cuisine in the process. Using expressive kawaii-style illustrations in black, white, and salmon, Lu effectively teaches younger readers about gentrification and community organizing. Major characters’ pronouns are given with their introductions. Noodle’s speech is presented in English and Taiwanese, Momo’s is presented in English and romanized Cantonese, while Momo’s parents and other Town 99 residents’ speech is presented in English and written Cantonese. Back matter includes an extensive author’s note with information about American Chinatowns, language, community organizing, and gentrification.