Mami King - by Jacqueline Chio-Lauri (Hardcover)

About the Book

"The true story of an intrepid young man, Ma Mon Luk, who leaves China for the Philippines, desperate to earn a living-and the approval of the parents of the woman he loves"--

Book Synopsis

Rejected by the parents of the girl he loves for being poor, Ma Mon Luk strikes out from China and boards a steamship headed for the Philippines in 1918.

He vows to make a fortune and return for his beloved. Ma creates a chicken noddle soup he calls mami--"ma" for his name and "mi" for noodles--and peddles it as a street vendor. He eventually earns enough to open his own restaurant and wins the approval of the parents of his true love. Joyful illustrations from award-winning illustrator Kristin Sorra and heartwarming text from debut picture book author Jacqueline Chio-Lauri blend together to create a delicious story about creativity, perseverance, and the perfect bowl of soup. Satisfy your hunger with this Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection!

"A savory success story."--Booklist

"An absolutely wonderful and inspiring story, beautifully illustrated. So much depth, so many layers! But at its core, this is fundamentally a story about the enduring power of love and how that helped Ma Mon Luk to achieve the impossible...A valuable addition to any bookshelf."--Emma Pearl, author of Mending the Moon and Saving the Sun.

Review Quotes

"A captivating story of love, determination, and the power of following one's passion . . . this book exemplifies the human spirit and is perfect for readers from first grade up."--School Library Journal

-- (9/17/2024 12:00:00 AM)

"As heartwarming and satisfying as a bowl of noodle soup."--Kirkus Reviews

-- (3/29/2024 12:00:00 AM)

"Sorra's digitally rendered illustrations have a cinematic feel, full of details and expression. . . This is an excellent addition to picture book biography collections. Reviewer Rating: 4"--Children's Literature

-- (4/8/2024 12:00:00 AM)

"History at its core must tell a good story and using the senses is one way to make the narrative and imagination move forward. Fortunately, there are stories of our history that are told in delicious ways. Mami King is one of them."--Ambeth R. Ocampo, Horacio de la Costa Professor in History & the Humanities, Ateneo de Manila University

-- (3/20/2024 12:00:00 AM)

"A resourceful young man employs his cooking skills to make his fortune and assist others in this lively biography of entrepreneur Ma Mon Luk."--Publishers Weekly

-- (3/18/2024 12:00:00 AM)

"An absolutely wonderful and inspiring story, beautifully illustrated. So much depth, so many layers! But at its core, this is fundamentally a story about the enduring power of love and how that helped Ma Mon Luk to achieve the impossible...A valuable addition to any bookshelf."--Emma Pearl, author of Mending the Moon and Saving the Sun.

-- (3/8/2024 12:00:00 AM)

"A savory success story."--Booklist

-- (2/13/2024 12:00:00 AM)