Noodle Magic

PreS-Gr 2—Young Mei watches Grandpa Tu "make magic with his hands and a bit of dough" as he mixes the ingredients in the morning, then slaps, kneads, and stretches it into magical coils that take the shape of exotic birds, cats, and roosters—even kite strings for the village children. The day before the emperor's birthday, Grandpa insists that Mei mix the dough, and together they slap, knead, and stretch it. After the child spends a long, tiring night trying to replicate Grandpa's magic, the elderly man—patient and encouraging—helps her to stretch the dough and watches as she rolls it into a huge noodle ball and tosses it into the sky toward the Moon Goddess, who gives her the confidence to find her own magic—just in time for the emperor's celebration. So has used an array of vibrant colors in her lead pencil-highlighted folk art paintings of the small, bustling Chinese town where Mei and Grandpa Tu reside above the noodle shop, and she has filled each scene with captivating details of everyday life and customs. The Moon Goddess—a large, smiling, chubby-cheeked jinni of a woman—can be seen sitting in the crescent moon in every nighttime scene—even toasting young Mei at the end of the delightful fantasy. A sweet, magical tale of a child being raised by a loving and nurturing adult.—Susan Scheps, formerly at Shaker Public Library, OH