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MO Day #24 Helen Wu Takes Time

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Five Multicultural Food-Themed Picture Books for Your Mentor Text

by Helen Wu

My favorite way to learn about other cultures is through food. Cooking and eating is something we all have in common, and it’s something kids easily relate to. Learning mentor texts about multicultural food-themed picture books is a great way to teach growing writers to embrace and celebrate differences as well as enhance writing skills.


Lin and her grandma, NaiNai, are making tofu from scratch. When NaiNai goes through each step, from blending soybeans with water to molding curd into shape, Lin gradually becomes impatient. In this charming tale, readers will marvel at how patience brings a whole universe together in a simple dish made by a modern Chinese American family.

  • Writing small moments

  • Using figurative language

  • Using onomatopoeia

Illustrated by Vikki Zhang


There’s something special bubbling in Nanni’s big metal pot. What ingredients might be inside? From farmhand to delivery drivers to market merchants, readers can see all the essential hands it takes to bring a meal together to this family. It’s a unique and touching celebration of our interconnectedness with all people, that in order to eat a single meal, it takes the whole world to make it.

  • Using dialogue in writing

  • Building Suspense

  • Strong Endings

Illustrated by Parwinder Singh


Dig into this fun and informational book that explores foods from 13 countries around the world. This picture book provides a window into traditions that may be different from our own as well as mirrors reflecting our common experiences. It will leave readers feeling like they've toured the globe without ever having left home.

  • Figurative Language

  • Nonfiction Narratives

  • Using Varied Word Choice


by Meera Sriram

Art By Ines de Antunano


In this rhyming picture book, 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.

  • Figurative Language

  • Author's purpose

  • Nonfiction Narratives

by Kat Zhang

Illustrated by Charlene Chua


Amy loves to make bao with her family. But it takes skill to make the bao taste and look delicious. And her bao keeps coming out all wrong. Then she has an idea that may give her a second chance…Will Amy ever make the perfect bao? Meet the funny, fierce, and fearless Amy Wu, who is determined to make a perfect bao bun today.

  • Strong Character Development

  • Building Suspense

  • Using the appropriate amount of dialogue

Helen H. Wu

BIO: Helen H. Wu is a children’s book author, illustrator, translator and publisher. She is the author of Tofu Takes Time, illustrated by Julie Jarema (Beaming Books, 2022) and Long Goes To Dragon School, illustrated by Mae Besom (Yeehoo Press, 2023). Helen is the Associate Publisher of Yeehoo Press, an independent children’s book publisher. Being fascinated by the differences and similarities between cultures, Helen loves to share stories that can empower children to understand the world and our connections. Currently, Helen lives in San Diego, California, with her family and two kids. Learn more about Helen at helenhwu.com and follow her on Twitter at @HelenHWu and on Instagram at @HelenHWu.


Social Media:

Twitter: @HelenHWu

Instagram: @HelenHWu

Tiktok: @helenhwu


PRIZE: Helen will be offering a picture book critique with a 30-minute editor Zoom call to one lucky winner. The manuscript needs to be non-rhyming and less than 1000 words.


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