Zhang graduated from Vanderbilt University. [8] Writings [ edit ] Young Adult novels [ edit ] Hybrid Chronicles trilogy [ edit ] Echoing the meter of “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” Ward uses catchy original rhymes to describe the variety of nests birds create. Then pinch and bring the folds together and twist them to form a top that resembles the shape of a garlic head. Take the twisted tip and press it down in the center. Condie, Ally (November 9, 2012). " 'Beta' and 'What's Left of Me' ". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331 . Retrieved October 2, 2019.

Then Amy realizes the dough is cut for grown-up sized hands. She asks her grandmother to cut smaller pieces. Amy adds the filling and pinches the sides closed. It’s perfect! She does it again and again then it is time to put the bao in the steamer to cook.

As for the second question, Yes, cooking with kids can definitely be messy! But, I hear you. I’ve been asked the mess question many times. I wrote a detailed answer, along with strategies for successful messy sensory play, that I believe can apply to cooking as well. It can be found by reading, “What about the Sensory Mess?” Bao? After reading this book my daughters had to get in the kitchen to make their own bao buns. My oldest daughter was so serious about it that she specifically asked for a bamboo steamer for her birthday. So we put her new steamer to work and got in the kitchen to make Amy Wu’s bao. Our recipe has a few adaptations to the filling to make them perfect for our family. Amy Wu’s Perfect Bao Recipe- Makes 20 Bao Bao Dough

The opportunity to see people like yourself in media is such a big deal, and honestly, something I don’t think I fully grasped until I was older. As a kid, I don’t remember specifically thinking that I wished there were more Asian-American characters in media. But not seeing myself reflected in the books and movies I consumed definitely contributed to my internalizing a lot of things as a kid about what sort of things I “fit” into. I was perpetually on the outside looking in. I hope that AMY WU is just one more opportunity for a kid to recognize themselves in Amy’s family. And of course, on the other side of things, I hope it lets non-Asian American kids explore a culture different from their own. Amy is a vivid little girl who lives with her mom and dad and grandma. They have a loving supportive family that's brought to life through the bright illustrations with little smiles. The pictures just exude happiness. We are highlighting this book in light of the recent (but not new) acts of violence against our brothers and sisters in the Asian community. While this book is not about racism, we want to show an aspect of families that everyone can relate to. When children (and adults) read about cultures other than their own, they can begin to develop a sense of empathy and connection that may not have been there before. What we really want is for everyone to take action against hate in all its forms. We’ll start by making Asian families and their experiences more visible. Then the best part eating and sharing the bao. The pork filling creates a salty sweet balance with the dough. If you want you can dip the bao in soy sauce or make a soy based dipping sauce with some rice wine vinegar, sesame oil and if you want a tiny bit of garlic chili sauce. Her two upcoming Middle Grade novels will be released in 2017 and 2018 with Simon & Schuster. The first, The Emperor's Riddle, is about hidden treasure, lost aunts, and China. The second, The Memory of Forgotten Things, is about parallel universes (again), solar eclipses, and misfit children.Bao for short. A type of yeast-leavened filled bun in various Chinese cuisines. Soft, fluffy dough that is steamed with various fillings inside. In 2017, The Emperor's Riddle won an honorable mention for the NCTA's Freeman Award. [4] It also won a Parent's Choice Award. [3] The first Amy Wu picture book, Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao, received a starred review from Kirkus, [21] and was a Kirkus Best Picture Book of 2019. [22] It was also chosen as a First and Best 2019 book by the Toronto Public Library. [23] References [ edit ]

So when my daughters like Amy Wu want to get in the kitchen and cook I let them. There are a few rules for safety. However, sometimes I look the other way when it come to kitchen messes. They have made their own toast and jam cakes and many other creative dishes along the way. The important thing is they are learning and getting a chance to try something on their own. Amy Wu reminds kids and even kids at heart to persevere and not let the little things (like using the oven and small fingers) stand in the way of your dreams.We love this sneak peek into this family’s home and meal-time tradition. It reminds us of cooking together with our own families. With the help of little hands sometimes the recipes don’t come out exactly right, but memories are made and (hopefully) the food is just as delicious. We may not be making bao, but the idea is the same. Families eating together and working through frustration is a common experience no matter who you are. They did! I hadn’t originally imagined Grandma with pink hair, but I think it adds something great to her character. Amy is every bit the spunky, vivacious kid I wanted her to be! Everyone works together to make the meal. She helps her dad make the dough, knead it and cut it into pieces. Amy’s mom makes the filling for the bao and then it is time to assemble. It’s hard for Amy to know how much filling to put inside. She struggles to pin the dough closed. Everyone tries to help Amy but she is getting frustrated and fears she will never be able to make perfect bao! I asked the author, Kat Zhang, and the illustrator, Charlene Chua, a few questions. I also had them interview one another. They discussed the story and the delicious ideas behind it. The kitchen stove in the story is more or less based on my actual stove. It’s a gas stove, because I’ve cooked with gas all my life. My mum cooked with gas, and my grandmothers did too (one grandmother liked using charcoal as well, but that’s another story). The rice cooker also looks similar to the cooker I grew up with, although the one I use now looks different.

Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao melds together the richness of classic children's books storytelling with the cheery conciseness of newer picture books. Amy Wu is a young Asian child who is exploring her culture and identity alongside her supportive family – in this book, she is trying to make the perfect bao (the book provides a great definition of bao and a pronunciation guide for outsiders!). However, Amy is having trouble with her bao because it just never comes out perfect like everyone else’s in the family does. Eventually, Amy’s grandmother helps her cut the dough in half, which makes it easier for Amy to roll out and stuff with meat, and suddenly Amy makes perfect bao. Notably, she says the ‘imperfect’ ones taste just as good (a good lesson!). Sometimes people will say “mistakes are proof that you are learning.” How can mistakes and wrong answers be helpful? Amazingly (at least for me, since my stories often undergo big changes from my first idea to the final draft!), AMY WU AND THE PERFECT BAO didn’t change much from the very first draft I wrote. The biggest tweak was probably having Amy herself come up with the solution of cutting the bao dough into smaller pieces so that they fit her hands better. In the first draft, it was Grandma who came up with the idea! Since then, I’ve been a tad obsessed with the yummy bao. I enjoy one every time I shop at the Asian grocery. So I was excited to learn of a new picture book coming out on October 1: AMY WU AND THE PERFECT BAO.

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Form the dough into a ball. Clean the bowl and lightly spray it with cooking spray. Place the dough ball in the bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Leave it in a warm place until the dough doubles in size about 1 to 1½ hours. (Note if your kitchen is a bit chilly like mine is this time of year, then turn on your oven. Place the dough bowl on top of the oven as it rises. The oven will warm your kitchen which helps with the rise.) Charlene asks Kat: Did the story change a lot from 1st draft till the version I got to illustrate? If so, what were the big changes? Recently a film by Pixar called “Bao” received the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film at the 91st Academy Awards. The short featured a Canadian-Chinese mother whose son grew up and moved away, so she was feeling lonely. Enter a perfect, plump bao to give her a second chance at motherhood. The Memory of Forgotten Things was selected as a Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year. [20] Both these book have beautiful, colorful illustrations and would be quite an attraction for the kids. The innocence on the face of Amy and her big curious eyes will make her character lovable and the kids will find a friend in her.