Book Review of "Slippery, Spicy, Tingly: A Kimchi Mystery" by Yangsook Choi
Bibliography
Choi, Y. 2024. Slippery, spicy, tingly: A kimchi mystery. Carolrhoda Books. ISBN: 9798765610183
Plot Summary
We follow a boy who loves kimchi and his grandmother, Halmoni who wants to show him the traditional way to make it. When his Halmoni comes to visit she is determined to show the boy how real kimchi is made. Starting with a big clay pot in the ground, then adding the cabbages and spices, the kimchi was put in the ground to sit. Hearing the different songs that his grandmother would sing he waited patiently for the kimchi to finish. Once it was finally time the kimchi was ready and there was a note at the bottom of the jar telling him that he was the biggest treasure that Halmoni could have.
Critical Analysis
In this story we meet a little boy that loves kimchi. He loves to sing songs and help his grandmother with her tasks. He is very curious about how things work in the world and is willing to try new things and new foods. We also meet Halmoni who is the little boy’s grandmother who shows him how to make homemade kimchi. The little boy doesn’t know exactly what he is doing at first, but his Halmoni tells him stories and shows him traditions of the family. In this culture grandparents typically pass down wisdom and information, in this story we see her passing down a family recipe and the traditional way that it is made in Korea. The book takes place mainly in the kitchen and house of the grandson. We can see this is in contemporary time because of the clothes the family is wearing, they are very typical of winter clothes you would find now. There are so many cultural details in this story from the songs that they sing to the actual making of the kimchi from scratch. There is a pronunciation guide on the first page of the book that shows you how to pronounce the different Korean words in the book and shows how they are written in their true form. The kitchen is inviting and warm and shows the connection that forms from the little boy and his grandmother. The description of the food shows the way Korean food is typically made, spicy, and full of flavor. You can also get a glimpse of the tradition of passing along a recipe and how that can go from generation to generation. You can see that the grandmother truly wants to show her grandson how to make homemade kimchi and the story and tradition is very important to her. The book is a very loving and sweet story about the bond between grandparents and grandchildren in this culture. We see how they become even closer at the end of the story when the grandmother leaves a note for the boy about how he is her treasure. Overall, this book is a great way to showcase how traditions are passed along in other cultures.
Review Excerpt(s)
"Based on Korean author and illustrator Choi's relationship with her own grandmother, the story's playful drawings and writing create a fun, lighthearted feel. The gentle pastel illustrations capture Halmoni's quirky personality through her facial expressions and movements, as well as Keo's curiosity and wonder."―starred, Booklist
"A slippery, spicy tale that tingles with wit and whimsy."―Kirkus Reviews
Connections
*I would challenge the students to write about their favorite food using sensory language. They would describe the food using all five senses. You can create a sensory word wall in the classroom or library as well.
*I would have the students bring in a recipe that was passed along in their home or one that they care about and create a class recipe book. They could draw a picture and post the recipe on their own page.
Comments
Post a Comment