Through Rhapsody in Books and contributing writer Nicole Stempak, we found Jama Kim Rattigan’s Dumpling Soup, a tale of ethnic Hawaiian family food making and identity.

Illustrated by Lillian Hsu-Flanders, Dumpling Soup follows Marisa as her family prepares for their traditional New Years Eve celebration by making dumpling soup. This is Marisa’s first time, and her dumplings don’t turn out like the others, but that’s all right: neither do mine.

The book focuses on Asian-American identity through generations of tradition and a most-Hawaiian exemplar of togetherness: food. Hsu-Flanders’ illustrations further develop Rattigan’s ability to tell a story. There’s also a glossary of terms from various Asian groups one might find on the Hawaiian islands. This could be a perfectly delicious children’s read just in time for Asian-Pacific Heritage Month.

Do you have a favorite children’s book or family dining tradition? Let us know in the comments or @DumplingMag.

Photo: Jama Kim Rattigan and Lillian Hsu-Flanders via Amazon

Tags: Asian-Pacific Heritage Month, Dumpling Soup, Jama Kim Rattigan, Lillian Hsu-Flanders