Where on Earth Is My Bagel?

by Frances Park, Ginger Park, Grace Lin (Illustrator)

Yum Yum lives in Korea, where there are no bagels, but one day he just knows he needs to have one. A story on the power of perseverance. Color illustrations.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Cultural, Food, Asian Literature

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 9, 2001

About the author

I grew up in an era when the U.S. Census Bureau need only come to my family's house to get a total head count of Koreans in my ‘burb. That reality is often reflected in seventeen books – novels, memoirs, children's books – published in seven languages, along with short fiction and personal essays appearing in over fifty magazines.

An identity born of two worlds is me in a nutshell. The theme of losing my dad young also haunts much of my work. In my latest novel "Ahn Love" (Penguin Random SEA), I imagine him today, had he lived to the ripe old age of ninety. It all began with a dream of seeing him break into a silly jig in the middle of a crosswalk, years after he died. “Ahn Love” was released in January 2026 and made quite a splash! It was selected by Elle INDIA as a ‘Must-Read’ for 2026, and Book of the Month by Untitled Book Club in Malaysia.

Recent works include my novel "Blue Rice", a portrayal of a Korean woman who survived the war with no choice but to acclimate to 1960 white America as she senses her husband’s desertion. "The Summer My Sister Was Cleopatra Moon" depicts the spiritual deformity of two Korean American sisters growing up in Washington, DC suburbia in the 1970s. My memoir-in-essays "That Lonely Spell" was praised by Kirkus Reviews as ‘a fresh take on the Korean American memoir by a writer from a generation whose voice has seldom been heard’. Latest accolades include a 2024 Foreword Indies Award and a 2017 Best American Essays Notable.

In addition, my co-author sister Ginger and I are among the pioneers of Asian American children’s literature, earning many awards. Our first picture book "My Freedom Trip: A Child’s Escape from North Korea", the recipient of the 2000 International Reading Award, is taught in schools all over the country. Our latest picture book "My Sister’s Doljabi" paints a sumptuous picture of one of Korea’s most important ceremonies: a Korean’s child’s first birthday. A glowing Kirkus Review summed the story up as ‘A rich and inviting exploration of a Korean celebration’.

Reviews

[Natalia Leston]

Text Set Book #4

This is a book about a boy, Yum Yum in Korea, who would like to eat a bagel but does not have access to any of the raw materials needed to make a bagel, and no matter who he asks, he cannot find the recipe for a New York style bagel. Finally, he works with the community to create his own version of a bagel.

This book can teach young students about perspective, and viewing the world from another country. While bagels are easily accessible here in NYC, they may not exist in other places around the world, such as Korea.

Possible Assignment: Opportunity for students to be creative:
Responding to Literature: Students will create and present a poem,
narrative, play, art work, or personal response to illustrate Yum Yum's journey to making a NYC style bagel.

[Mina]

Amazing!!! international trade fixes much, but not all

[Henry Claxton]

This book is enjoyable for people of all ages! The artwork is impeccable, the plot is entertaining, and there's a fun clash of cultures. It takes the whole town for a Korean boy to create his dream New York bagel. By the end of the story, everyone contributes to complete the boy's dream of a perfect bagel.

[Stephanie]

The genre for this book is realistic fiction. I would use this lesson in relation to story mapping. It has an in-depth process for sending a letter and finding out more information about how to make a bagel.

[Sharlet Mullen]

I do not understand this book and why a begal from New York has anything to do with a child in Korea. The message is that anything can happen but very unrealistic.

[Joseph Pomatto]

It is set in Korea but the kid wants a New York bagel, kinda through me for a loop but it teaches one to be patient

[charlene.librarian]

This is a hilarious book about a young boy in Korea longing for a New York bagel. Since I lived in New York City for many years and have certainly eaten my fair share of bagels, I readily empathize with Yum Yung. The illustration from Grace Lin is sweet with details of flowers and hillsides and swirls in the sky. I doubt that Yum Yung, the farmer, the fisherman, the beekeeper, and the baker wore traditional Korean garments when they worked every day, but I don't know for certain. The Korean traditional hanbok dress for women and men are beautiful. Showing it in the book is a nice element of Korean heritage, but it doesn't seem to fit the context. I would have preferred to see the traditional dress in a different setting.

[Ruth]

A child in Asia has a dream of a bagel and meets up with several folks who have no idea what he's talking about. He writes a letter to NY for some, but the letter he gets back says they won't travel well, but here's a recipe. Those previous people all get together to make it happen. I love it!

Only wish would be for a bagel recipe at the end.

[Jackie]

Lovely children's book with the exotic illustration that come from seeing pictures of another culture. Cute story. There was a plot twist I did not see coming.

[Colton]

it is a good book but i cant read it?

[Kassandra Philogene]

Very cute story I read with my kids at work during literacy. They also wrote sentences with the vocabulary words from the book.

[Jolene Gutiérrez]

Yum Yung wants a bagel. After writing a letter to New York, Yum Yung receives a letter back with a recipe for a New York style bagel. The entire village works together to bake a village-sized bagel. Yum!

[Angie]

Grace Lin is an excellent illustrator and this was a fun read for my Korean students. Unfortunately, I mentioned that my usual breakfast is a bagel and cream cheese and they have been asking me non-stop for bagels. Bagels aren't typically made in a Korean bakery but the influence of Western cuisine here means that they are available, and people line up on the weekends to get them from restaurants that specialize in bagels. Me? I buy plain bagels and cream cheese from Coupang.

[Georgina Warren]

This delightful picture book is filled with vivid images of a small farming village in Korea with crops, water, and mountains that met the sky, rendered in striking colors and patterns. Bold reds and blues juxtaposed with the soft browns and greens lead to a delightful visual experience.

When a young boy called Yum Yung wishes for a fresh New York bagel he goes on a quest to find one. He sends a messenger pigeon to get a bagel for him. While he waits, he meets a farmer, a fisherman, a bee keeper and a baker but none of them know where to help him find a bagel. There are no bagel shops in his farming town and the local baker only makes sweet rice cakes, how will Yum Yang find his bagel?

The book has a rhythmic method of storytelling that is great for young readers ages 3-7. A wonderful tale of community and innovation as the young boy finds a clever way to make use of his resources and connections to get a bagel. I guarantee that this book will leave all readers craving a fresh hot bagel sandwich from their local cafe. I know from experience. The plot serves as a lovely cross-cultural celebration of community and food.

[Connie]

Yum Yung wants a bagel. A New York bagel, to be precise. How he got this idea, living in Korea (where there are no bagels that he knows of) is a bit of a mystery, but there it is.

So he decides to order in, but in the meantime it takes forever so he asks around. No surprise here, the people he asks are the same ones who has what he needs to MAKE a bagel at the end of the book.

Simple story, fun ending - it could only have been made better with the inclusion of a recipe.

[Earl]

A fun little story about a boy in Korea suddenly craving a New York style bagel. When the pigeon he sends to order one fails to deliver, he turns to the people in his neighborhood for help. I thought this would include the recipe.

[Carla]

My sister-in-law has met the author and read her books. I took her recommendation and loved this and "The Good Day Cafe."

[Ronna]

Not as well written as her other books.

[Hilary]

Drab illustrations for a decent story line.

[Colleen]

Good for You - unit 7
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