Readers follow ten diverse families as they cook dumplings inside their homes in preparation for a neighborhood potluck. Dumplings are added to plates one by one, encouraging children to count with each new addition. Authentic recipes for all the dumplings and a map showing their regions of origin are included in the endnotes.
Dumpling Day features dumplings from the following regions:
Written by Meera Sriram
Illustrated by Inés de Antuñano
“The aromas of homemade food sneak their way across an entire multicultural neighborhood as growling bellies wait to be filled with . . . dumplings! Recipes from Nigeria, Syria, China, Russia, Mexico, and more reveal tasty fillings tucked into doughs that are boiled, steamed, fried, and baked. . . . Sriram’s simple rhyming story celebrating the unifying magic of food pairs well with the childlike naïveté of de Antuñano’s inclusive and diverse gouache illustrations” – Kirkus Reviews
“Peppy, rhyming text; cheerful illustrations; and a counting element combine for an enjoyable introduction to 10 types of dumpling from around the world, spanning Nigeria to Russia to Japan . . . Vibrant, folk art style illustrations depict the multicultural families and expand on the inclusive message” – Booklist
“Counting from one to ten dumplings, this culinary celebration visits families preparing for their town’s multicultural “dumpling party.” The folk art–style illustrations bring readers into bustling kitchens; the rhyming text packs a lot of cultural specificity into two lines” – The Horn Book Guide
“In this mouthwatering story-counting book, ten ethnically diverse families make ten different kinds of dumplings for a neighborhood potluck . . . Carefully placed details establish a cultural context: a folkloric rug and throw pillows for Nigeria, Asian wall hangings for Japan, floral ceramic tiles and succulent plants for Mexico, Islamic mosaic patterns for Syria” – Jama’s Alphabet Soup