Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao

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Then remove the steamer from the heat heat for 3 to 4 minutes before removing the lid, to keep the bao from deflating. Repeat the steaming process adding more water to the pan as needed until all the bao are cooked. The second book in the series is once again a look at Amy Wu's creativity. At craft time in school all kids are supposed to make a dragon and Amy's dragon is similar to the Chinese dragons from the stories she has heard from her grandma. All her friends think it does not look like a dragon at all. Amy tries to create another type of dragon, but it does not feel right to her. She once again comes up with an idea to create something which she loves and get others on board too. 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!

The first book is a look at perseverance in young kids. Amy Wu is excited to make Bao (Chinese dumplings) along with her family. It is a family activity and all of them sit together to roll and fill the dumplings. Amy can't make dumplings as good as her parents or grandma. The book tells us how she still perseveres, does not give up and comes up with an idea to make the perfect dumplings.

What a cover! Not only is there a perfect bao, but Amy and her kitty are pretty darn adorable, too. 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. Charlene, what was your inspiration for Amy Wu’s look—her hair, her clothes, her body language, etc.? 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!). 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!

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 ] 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! Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao” by Kat Zhang and illustrated by Charlene Chua is a beautiful book about a young girl learning to make homemade Bao. Her family members each give her suggestions that work for them, but as much as she tries it just doesn’t work for her. Even though she almost felt defeated, she perseveres and in the end realizes what works for her.

Amy Wu’s Perfect Bao Recipe- Makes 20 Bao

Sometimes people will say “mistakes are proof that you are learning.” How can mistakes and wrong answers be helpful?

Just add one comment below and a random winner will be selected soon! (Tara has many winners of recent contests to select!) 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.Amy Wu series is picture book and it was very easy to read for me. I like Amy because she never gives up and comes up with ideas to achieve her goal. 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.

It’s kind of hard for me to pin down my own style (I think many artists have that problem!). I guess my art tends to be quite energetic, usually with pretty strong colors. I think it’s evolved over the years, especially now that I’m working with more non-digital art for some other projects. But at the same time, I think if you looked at the older and newer work, it’s still possible to see the same artist behind it. Bao for short. A type of yeast-leavened filled bun in various Chinese cuisines. Soft, fluffy dough that is steamed with various fillings inside.Hybrid Chronicles series is set in an alternate universe society in which every body possesses two ' souls' or human identities at birth. One of these identities, termed the "recessive soul," is supposed to fade away with age. Those who retain both souls are labelled 'hybrids' and are ostracized from normal society. The series' protagonists are Addie and Eva, the dominant and recessive souls respectively, who inhabit the same body. The girls hide the presence of Eva, who has lost control of their shared body but never completely faded, for fear of what might happen if they were ever discovered. Over the course of the trilogy, the girls are at first institutionalized for their hybrid nature, then join a resistance force for hybrid rights.