FICTION

Hot Pot Night!

by Vincent Chen (text) & illus. by Vincent Chen
Charlesbridge. Sept. 2020. 40p. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781623541200.
COPY ISBN
PreS-K–The story opens with four families in an apartment building asking the eternal question, “What’s for dinner?” One little boy’s enthusiastic answer of “Hot pot!” is met with jubilation and spurs immediate action. One family provides the hot pot, another the broth, while the remaining two families bring the meat and vegetables. With broad digital illustrations and minimal text, readers witness the whole feast come to life. All of the neighbors heartily dig in with chopsticks and eat to their hearts’ content. When there is no more they all pitch in to wash the dishes. As the neighbors return to their own apartments, they agree to do it again but alternate who will bring the pot and who will host. A recipe at the end is the ideal finishing touch.
VERDICT A delightful celebration of food and community in the vein of the European stone soup folktale, with a Taiwanese twist.
Reviewed by Amy ­Nolan, St. Joseph P.L., MI , Aug 01, 2020

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