2024 NATIONAL MEDAL
for Museum and Library Service Finalist

Kids

Magic Ramen: The Story of Momofuku Ando

Every day, Momofuku Ando would retire to his lab--a little shed in his backyard. For years, he'd dreamed about making a new kind of ramen noodle soup that was quick, convenient, and tasty for the hungry people he'd seen in line for a bowl on the black market following World War II. Peace follows from a full stomach, he believed. Day after day, Ando experimented. Night after night, he failed. But Ando kept experimenting. With persistence, creativity, and a little inspiration, Ando succeeded. This is the true story behind one of the world's most popular foods.

Lia & Luís: Who Has More?

Two Brazilian American siblings, Lia and Luís, are always competing, even when it comes to their favorite Brazilian snacks from their family's store; they want to know which of them has more, and they use various mathematical techniques to pick a winner--and then share the delicious results.

Kimchi, Kimchi Every Day

Explore the different ways to eat kimchi in this fun, rhyming tale that also teaches the days of the week. Korean-American author-illustrator Erica Kim shares her pride in her delicious cultural food through her cut paper art technique. The Hanji paper that is used to illustrate the book comes from a paper mulberry tree native to Korea.

Kids Cooking: Students Prepare and Eat Foods from Around the World

Roll up your sleeves, wash your hands, and join four different groups of kids as they prepare recipes from all over the world, step by step. George Ancona's photographs record every crumb of effort as the children make their way around the kitchen, chopping, measuring, rolling, mixing, and learning about the food they're eager to eat. The end result? Roasted vegetables from Morocco, fried rice from China, minestrone from Italy, and salsa from Mexico, filling the kids' bowls and plates and tantalizing readers who may be inspired to cook up something savory of their own.

Hilwa's Gifts

Ali has arrived in Palestine for a visit just in time for the olive harvest. His grandfather, Seedo, and Hilwa-his favorite tree-greet him in the grove, where Seedo explains that Hilwa has many gifts to share. Other family members whack the trees' branches with sticks, singing "Zaytoon, ya zaytoon" while cousins clap and dance and happily pick up fallen olives. (Luckily, a gentle whack is all it takes for Hilwa's fruits to rain down!) The next day, at the olive press, Ali watches the drip of gold liquid into a can, another of Hilwa's gifts.

Halal Hot Dogs

Every Friday Musa's family takes turns picking out a Jummah treat which they use to try all different foods, but when it is Musa's turn he sticks to his favorite halal hot dogs to share.

Gigi and Ojiji: Food for Thought

Gigi can't wait for her Ojiji--Japanese grandpa--to move in. Gigi plans lots of things to do with him, like playing tag, reading books, and teaching Roscoe, the family dog, new tricks. But her plans don't work out quite the way she'd hoped. And her grandpa doesn't seem to like Roscoe. Will Gigi find a way to connect with her Ojiji? The story contains several Japanese words and a glossary of definitions and pronunciations.