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Amy Wu #1
Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao
Meet the funny, fierce, and fearless Amy Wu, who is determined to make a perfect bao bun today. Can she rise to the occasion?
Amy loves to make bao with her family. But it takes skill to make the bao taste and look delicious. And her bao keep coming out all wrong.
Then she has an idea that may give her a second chance…Will Amy ever make the perfect bao?
Amy loves to make bao with her family. But it takes skill to make the bao taste and look delicious. And her bao keep coming out all wrong.
Then she has an idea that may give her a second chance…Will Amy ever make the perfect bao?
40 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2019
12 people are currently reading
944 people want to read
About the author
Kat Zhang
25 books948 followers*Please do not message me through Goodreads! Instead, email me at katzhang3 AT gmail DOT com. I don't get on Goodreads often to check messages! Thank you :) *
Kat Zhang spent most of her childhood tramping through a world weaved from her favorite stories and games. When she and her best friend weren't riding magic horses or talking to trees, they were writing adaptations of plays for their stuffed animals (what would The Wizard of Oz have been like if the Cowardly Lion were replaced by a Loquacious Lamb?). This may or may not explain many of Kat's quirks today.
By the age of twelve, Kat had started her first novel and begun plans for her life as a Real Live Author (she was rather more confident at twelve than she is even now). Said plans didn't come into fruition until seven years later, when her agent sold her Young Adult trilogy, The Hybrid Chronicles, to HarperCollins. The series, about a parallel universe where everyone is born with two souls, concluded in 2014.
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.
Kat is represented by Emmanuelle Morgen of Stonesong. She also contributes to Pub(lishing) Crawl, a site for aspiring writers to talk about books, storytelling craft, and the publishing process.
Kat Zhang spent most of her childhood tramping through a world weaved from her favorite stories and games. When she and her best friend weren't riding magic horses or talking to trees, they were writing adaptations of plays for their stuffed animals (what would The Wizard of Oz have been like if the Cowardly Lion were replaced by a Loquacious Lamb?). This may or may not explain many of Kat's quirks today.
By the age of twelve, Kat had started her first novel and begun plans for her life as a Real Live Author (she was rather more confident at twelve than she is even now). Said plans didn't come into fruition until seven years later, when her agent sold her Young Adult trilogy, The Hybrid Chronicles, to HarperCollins. The series, about a parallel universe where everyone is born with two souls, concluded in 2014.
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.
Kat is represented by Emmanuelle Morgen of Stonesong. She also contributes to Pub(lishing) Crawl, a site for aspiring writers to talk about books, storytelling craft, and the publishing process.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 362 reviews
November 2, 2023
What I love about books is what great teachers they are.
And this one, is no different.
What is a bao?
For beginners, it is pronounced – “bow.”
The author grew up in a Mandarin-speaking family.
So…
Bao was typically referred to as Baozi.
And…
Bao for short. A type of yeast-leavened filled bun in various Chinese cuisines. Soft, fluffy dough that is steamed with various fillings inside.
Are you getting hungry just thinking about it?
Yum.
This is the story of Amy.
And…
Amy can do many things…
But…
What she can’t do is make bao.
But then…
She decides she wants to end this by learning how.
So…
Her learning lessons begin.
And…
Guess what happens?
You don’t think I am going to give away spoilers, do you?
A wonderful recipe is provided at the end of the story for families and children to make perfect bao, too.
Interest levels: Kindergarten – Grade 2
I would like to share that this is one of six books that I won as part of the Little Free Library organization partnership with Simon & Schuster food-themed picture book bundle.
I am excited to include this beautifully illustrated book in my Little Free Library Shed and appreciate this gift to our neighborhood.
And this one, is no different.
What is a bao?
For beginners, it is pronounced – “bow.”
The author grew up in a Mandarin-speaking family.
So…
Bao was typically referred to as Baozi.
And…
Bao for short. A type of yeast-leavened filled bun in various Chinese cuisines. Soft, fluffy dough that is steamed with various fillings inside.
Are you getting hungry just thinking about it?
Yum.
This is the story of Amy.
And…
Amy can do many things…
But…
What she can’t do is make bao.
But then…
She decides she wants to end this by learning how.
So…
Her learning lessons begin.
And…
Guess what happens?
You don’t think I am going to give away spoilers, do you?
A wonderful recipe is provided at the end of the story for families and children to make perfect bao, too.
Interest levels: Kindergarten – Grade 2
I would like to share that this is one of six books that I won as part of the Little Free Library organization partnership with Simon & Schuster food-themed picture book bundle.
I am excited to include this beautifully illustrated book in my Little Free Library Shed and appreciate this gift to our neighborhood.
February 26, 2020
Wonderful book on family and cooking - plus a great recipe for bao at the end of the book!
October 21, 2020
Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao is about a little girl who wants to make the perfect steamed bun. But her bao are always too small, too large, too full, too empty, or just too messy. When her family spends the day making bao, Amy tries to make the perfect one... but just can't manage it. She's frustrated, but then she comes up with a solution.
The illustrations by Charlene Chua are really adorable, and the whole premise is liable to get some stomachs growling (there's even a recipe in the back so you can make your own bao). But I'm not sold on Amy's solution to the problem; it doesn't make a lot of sense. How does cutting the dough in half result in her making the perfect-sized bun? I feel like I'm missing something.
But the message about persevering is good, and I enjoyed seeing the bao-making as a family activity. It's a cute picture book, and the bit of weakness in the plot is made up for by the darling illustrations and the nice message.
Quotable moment:
The illustrations by Charlene Chua are really adorable, and the whole premise is liable to get some stomachs growling (there's even a recipe in the back so you can make your own bao). But I'm not sold on Amy's solution to the problem; it doesn't make a lot of sense. How does cutting the dough in half result in her making the perfect-sized bun? I feel like I'm missing something.
But the message about persevering is good, and I enjoyed seeing the bao-making as a family activity. It's a cute picture book, and the bit of weakness in the plot is made up for by the darling illustrations and the nice message.
Quotable moment:
February 22, 2019
This was such a fun book! The illustrations are beautiful and so full of emotion. Kids and adults alike will be able to identify with how it feels when it seems like everyone can do something with ease that you struggle with. Amy's journey is sweet and entertaining and as a bonus there's a bao recipe in the back too!
December 20, 2020
Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao is a children's picture book written by Kat Zhang and illustrated by Charlene Chua. It about Amy Wu, a little girl, who wants to make perfect bao, just like the ones her mom, dad, and grandma make.
Zhang's text is simplistic and straightforward. It tells a story about a little girl in persuit of making the perfect bao with her family patiently and willingly to teach her. A bao recipe concludes, as does a revelation that "not-so-perfect bao" taste just as a good as their tidy counterparts. Chua's bright-eyed protagonist is winning from the start, and the book's jaunty pacing, sparkly palette, and visual directness are reminiscent of a classic animated cartoon short.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. In this tasty story of tenacity and ingenuity, everyone in the family can make perfect bao except for Amy. While Amy is good at many other things, bao making eludes her, but isn’t too far beyond her grasp, especially since her parents and grandmother are happy to dedicate a day to helping. However, perfection continues to elude the increasingly frazzled child, until she figures out how to hack the process by using smaller dough circles, which yield flawless bao that are soft and fluffy and so, so delicious.
All in all, Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao is a wonderful children's book about a young girl and her quest to make the perfect bao – a tasty book for anyone.
Zhang's text is simplistic and straightforward. It tells a story about a little girl in persuit of making the perfect bao with her family patiently and willingly to teach her. A bao recipe concludes, as does a revelation that "not-so-perfect bao" taste just as a good as their tidy counterparts. Chua's bright-eyed protagonist is winning from the start, and the book's jaunty pacing, sparkly palette, and visual directness are reminiscent of a classic animated cartoon short.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. In this tasty story of tenacity and ingenuity, everyone in the family can make perfect bao except for Amy. While Amy is good at many other things, bao making eludes her, but isn’t too far beyond her grasp, especially since her parents and grandmother are happy to dedicate a day to helping. However, perfection continues to elude the increasingly frazzled child, until she figures out how to hack the process by using smaller dough circles, which yield flawless bao that are soft and fluffy and so, so delicious.
All in all, Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao is a wonderful children's book about a young girl and her quest to make the perfect bao – a tasty book for anyone.
August 15, 2019
Amy Wu wants to make the perfect bao.
Her bao are too small. Or too big. Or the bao have too much filling. Or not enough. Or they fall apart before she can eat them.
Amy decides to host a bao making event with her family. She plans to make the perfect bao.
But still Amy has troubles.
Until she has a clever idea....
Children will enjoy this glimpse into family life, and they will especially enjoy trying out the recipe for the perfect bao provided in the back of the book.
Her bao are too small. Or too big. Or the bao have too much filling. Or not enough. Or they fall apart before she can eat them.
Amy decides to host a bao making event with her family. She plans to make the perfect bao.
But still Amy has troubles.
Until she has a clever idea....
Children will enjoy this glimpse into family life, and they will especially enjoy trying out the recipe for the perfect bao provided in the back of the book.
October 9, 2019
The story and super cute (and expressive) illustrations (especially the little white kitten character) make this a joy to read. I like how Amy never gives up and figures out on her own how to make the perfect bao. The only drawback to this book was it made me very hungry for some bao but I'm no chef so it may have to wait until Dine Out Friday! The recipe in the back provides some great background on what all is really involved in making bao and will no doubt provide for some great family kitchen time for many readers.
October 28, 2021
This is a sweet picture book about a girl making Chinese baozi, steamed buns stuffed with filling. My kids liked it because baozi is one of their favorite breakfasts, but it also would be great to introduce a common Chinese breakfast item to other kids. The illustrations were very bright and funny.
August 7, 2020
I'm sold on any kids book that helps build an appreciation around food. This is a great little story that includes a solid recipe at the end.
May 29, 2025
Food, Family, finding determination to put in effort and letting go of the expectation of perfection... our tonight's read aloud had it all!
In this book, Amy has set heart on perfecting the bao. And while she puts in all the hardwork and clever tricks at hand, she also realises in the end that imperfect bao is just as delicious as the perfectly shaped one! Every parent will see their little one mirrored in Amy because she has this fierce need to be able to do a lot of things, if not all. The furrowing of brows, the frustration, the exasperation and finally... that angry lament of why do they have to wait to be able to do things? Why can't it all be now?
I loved how expressive Amy is in Charlene Chua's illustrations! I felt everything that Amy felt and so did the tinies. A&A were so tickled to see Amy's grandma hold two perfectly shaped bao in the time it took Amy's parents shape just one. They were like, yes parents, time to be a bit humbled! 😂😂 Pretty sure they are going to ask their grandparents for a scoop next time they are on call. While it may not have doused the blazing fire that my little humans have inside them ( to be able to do everything now, right away, and in this moment! ), it made a fun bed time read for us for sure.
In this book, Amy has set heart on perfecting the bao. And while she puts in all the hardwork and clever tricks at hand, she also realises in the end that imperfect bao is just as delicious as the perfectly shaped one! Every parent will see their little one mirrored in Amy because she has this fierce need to be able to do a lot of things, if not all. The furrowing of brows, the frustration, the exasperation and finally... that angry lament of why do they have to wait to be able to do things? Why can't it all be now?
I loved how expressive Amy is in Charlene Chua's illustrations! I felt everything that Amy felt and so did the tinies. A&A were so tickled to see Amy's grandma hold two perfectly shaped bao in the time it took Amy's parents shape just one. They were like, yes parents, time to be a bit humbled! 😂😂 Pretty sure they are going to ask their grandparents for a scoop next time they are on call. While it may not have doused the blazing fire that my little humans have inside them ( to be able to do everything now, right away, and in this moment! ), it made a fun bed time read for us for sure.
February 7, 2020
Rounded up because the child thinks of the solution
August 12, 2019
Determination and a love for a delicious food hit a little silliness and tons of family support in this fun read, which is sure to direct interest to the kitchen and foreign foods.
Amy Wu loves Bao. It's one of her most favorite things to eat. Everyone in her family can make them. Perfectly. But she can't. They're either too small or falling apart or too doughy...it's always a mess. But Amy Wu isn't about to give up and creates a Bao making plan. Maybe she'll find the secret to creating a perfect one herself.
I already am a bao fan. So, this book hit me and my family just right. Still, Amy Wu is a treat too. Her energy and bright attitude shine off of every page even when things don't go her way. She's positive, determined and so full of life. Mix it with her joyful family, who is ready to support her and a white cat, who almost every kid would like to have as a companion and this is simply a fun read.
The illustrations are whimsical and as energetic as Amy Wu. Young listeners can follow the story themselves, when flipping through the pages alone. But of course, the most fun is watching while listening to it read aloud. Every page demonstrates the positive atmosphere and accompanies the story nicely.
As an extra treat, Amy Wu's family recipe is in the back pages and begs to be used. This is a great way to add to the story telling treat and introduce kids not only to the kitchen but to a food they might not have known before.
This book is getting a two, big thumbs up from us. I received an ARC copy and loved diving into every page. So, I'm leaving my honest thoughts.
Amy Wu loves Bao. It's one of her most favorite things to eat. Everyone in her family can make them. Perfectly. But she can't. They're either too small or falling apart or too doughy...it's always a mess. But Amy Wu isn't about to give up and creates a Bao making plan. Maybe she'll find the secret to creating a perfect one herself.
I already am a bao fan. So, this book hit me and my family just right. Still, Amy Wu is a treat too. Her energy and bright attitude shine off of every page even when things don't go her way. She's positive, determined and so full of life. Mix it with her joyful family, who is ready to support her and a white cat, who almost every kid would like to have as a companion and this is simply a fun read.
The illustrations are whimsical and as energetic as Amy Wu. Young listeners can follow the story themselves, when flipping through the pages alone. But of course, the most fun is watching while listening to it read aloud. Every page demonstrates the positive atmosphere and accompanies the story nicely.
As an extra treat, Amy Wu's family recipe is in the back pages and begs to be used. This is a great way to add to the story telling treat and introduce kids not only to the kitchen but to a food they might not have known before.
This book is getting a two, big thumbs up from us. I received an ARC copy and loved diving into every page. So, I'm leaving my honest thoughts.
December 15, 2019
Bright colors and a bold main character make this book a fun problem-solving guide! The problem? Amy just can't make perfect bao. The solution? She practices and practices some more. The new problem? She's not getting any better at it! So, what can she do?
Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao suggests that learning from trial and error is not only okay, but encouraged, and offers the idea that sometimes the best solutions are the ones outside of the box! Even better, everyone is supportive of her ideas, and even Amy is, in the end, delighted as she cooks and eats both her perfect and imperfect bao!
And what's more, is that Zhang gives her own recipe for Amy's bao, turning this book from bedtime story to mid-day cookbook! Great for grades K-2.
Review cross-listed here!
Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao suggests that learning from trial and error is not only okay, but encouraged, and offers the idea that sometimes the best solutions are the ones outside of the box! Even better, everyone is supportive of her ideas, and even Amy is, in the end, delighted as she cooks and eats both her perfect and imperfect bao!
And what's more, is that Zhang gives her own recipe for Amy's bao, turning this book from bedtime story to mid-day cookbook! Great for grades K-2.
Review cross-listed here!
August 14, 2019
This is for the moments in life when every child wishes to do something as well as the big people around them. Really, we all have those moments don't we? Little Amy Wu wants to be able to make traditional bao as perfectly as her family members but it's the one thing she just can't seem to do. Amy is an easy to love character. The text shows her determination and problem solving skills and the illustrations depict her in such a cheerful darling way that you can't help but root for her and her perfect bao. For those of you that get to the end hoping to get a bite for yourself, the recipe for some delicious is in the back.
September 7, 2019
First sentence: Amy can do a lot of things. She can brush her teeth. She can tie her shoe. She can even do both at once...sort of.
Premise/plot: Will Amy ever learn how to make bao like her mom, dad, and grandma?! She tries. She tries hard. She tries often. She listens. She imitates. This book chronicles her attempts to make the perfect bao—one that doesn’t fall apart. It very much celebrates family, family life, traditions, food and feasts.
My thoughts: This picture book was lovely and charming. I enjoyed meeting Amy and her family. I loved her determination. I loved her spirit. She seems like a kindred spirit.
Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10
Premise/plot: Will Amy ever learn how to make bao like her mom, dad, and grandma?! She tries. She tries hard. She tries often. She listens. She imitates. This book chronicles her attempts to make the perfect bao—one that doesn’t fall apart. It very much celebrates family, family life, traditions, food and feasts.
My thoughts: This picture book was lovely and charming. I enjoyed meeting Amy and her family. I loved her determination. I loved her spirit. She seems like a kindred spirit.
Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10
December 17, 2021
What a lovely tale! Like so many kids struggling to learn a new skill, Amy Wu is frustrated that she's not getting better at bao-making faster. No answers just fall into her lap; she figures out a way to solve her own problem in this sweet tale. Also loved the expressive illustrations by Charlene Chua. As my kid has just started loving Bao, I can't wait to try this recipe (written in terms easy enough for children. And me.)
June 15, 2019
This story made me hungry and made me want to make bao. Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao will entice children to get in and learn something new in the kitchen. I loved the themes of practice, practice practice, patience while learning, and problem-solving.
January 25, 2020
This was ADORABLE. Such expressive illustrations, the kitty cat character is spot on, and I love Amy's ultimate solution (and the fact that the imperfect bao also taste good.) It made me hungry...there is a bao recipe in the back but unfortunately I do not have steamer baskets, so no bao for me.
February 1, 2020
So adorable. It made me hungry too 😋 I felt a little bad reading it to my kid since he’s allergic to wheat and might never get to eat bao though. But that didn’t take away from the book - perfect combo of great illustrations and story!
November 30, 2019
Making the perfect bao like her mother, baba, and grandmother proves to be difficult for Amy, but in the end she learns that it really doesn't have to be perfect to be tasty.
December 29, 2019
I love it love it love it.
June 26, 2021
Amy Wu and the Perfect Boa is a perfect picture book! It's heartwarming, funny, and educational. I especially love the recipe included at the end. Plus, the illustration is phenomenal. Amazing stuff!
April 12, 2024
Absolutely loved reading this, and I can’t wait to try Amy’s recipe!
December 3, 2024
What a cute and engaging book! The book is about a little girl named Amy Wu and her experience with struggling to make one of her favorite dishes. Amy absolutely loves eating bao, which is a type of Chinese steamed bun. It sounds very delicious! However, she has a lot of trouble making bao, as she can never seem to get the bao to turn out perfectly. When compared to her mom, dad, and grandma, who make perfect baos, Amy’s baos seem lacking. However, Amy is determined to perfect her bao and attempts to make the baos with her family. I think her determination is admirable. While she attempts to make the bao, she finds that her baos do not turn out right. Eventually, she keeps trying until she determines that the dough of the baos is too big for her hands. After correcting this issue, Amy is finally able to make perfect baos and shares them with her class, which was a wonderful way to end the book. I thought that one of the major themes of the book is the importance of perseverance when faced with difficulties. I believe that this is the theme because throughout the book, Amy is constantly trying to perfect her bao, even when she keeps failing repeatedly. Amy was able to stay determined and motivated, which allowed her to eventually be able to make the perfect bao. Another major theme that I found in the book is that not everyone can be perfect at everything, and it is okay to not excel in a certain area. I thought that this was also the theme, as Amy described in the beginning that she was good at brushing her teeth, doing her hair, and many other things. However, she was never good at making baos. She described her constant struggles with making bao, but to no avail. This highlighted the fact that it is normal and even expected that an individual struggles in some areas that they may not be familiar with. There is usually a learning experience involved in trying to perfect or master a certain technique or concept, and this book did a wonderful job of showing that! The main genre of the book is contemporary realistic fiction, as this book was written in 2019, displaying relevant and realistic experiences of a little girl, which an individual can experience in real life. Through reading this book, I learned what baos were and how they are made! I thought it was especially helpful to include this, as it helped me to learn more about Chinese culture and the dishes associated with the culture. I also learned about how to find passion through struggles. Throughout the book, Amy’s exploration of different bao-making techniques and the obstacles she faced allowed her to find a new passion. This is an important lesson to learn for me, especially when I am trying to find a passion of my own. This book was a WOW book for me because it was very enjoyable and taught me so much about Chinese culture. I loved the takeaways from the book, and I believe that it is a great book to teach anyone about the importance of staying determined and resilient when faced with hardship. I also enjoyed the illustrations and the recipe at the end of the book!
One writing craft technique that enhanced the quality of the book is the imagery and the descriptive language used by the author. The use of this imagery and descriptive language enhanced the quality of the book because it allowed readers like me to understand what exactly bao was and allowed me to almost feel and get an idea of what bao tastes like. The softness, fluffiness, the texture, the filling, and the method of making the baos were described in detail, which helped to evoke a sense of appreciation for the baos. Another writing craft technique that enhanced the quality of the book is the instructional tone of the writing. The book details chronological steps, showing the reader how a bao is made from beginning to end. The instructional tone helps enhance the quality of the book, as it allows the reader to be part of the learning process and possibly inspire a reader to try making a bao themselves. I for myself definitely want to try making a bao now! The author portrayed anti-bias perspectives in this book by showing tradition and cultural practices in Amy’s family. This book could be considered as a “window” book for many readers, as the book showcased Chinese culture, and a dish associated with the culture. In the end of the book, Amy was able to share her baos with everyone in class, representing unity and demonstrating an appreciation for culture and cultural dishes. The author promotes her heritage in a positive light and encourages others to try and remake baos in their own kitchens. This type of representation is important to demonstrate anti-bias perspectives!
One writing craft technique that enhanced the quality of the book is the imagery and the descriptive language used by the author. The use of this imagery and descriptive language enhanced the quality of the book because it allowed readers like me to understand what exactly bao was and allowed me to almost feel and get an idea of what bao tastes like. The softness, fluffiness, the texture, the filling, and the method of making the baos were described in detail, which helped to evoke a sense of appreciation for the baos. Another writing craft technique that enhanced the quality of the book is the instructional tone of the writing. The book details chronological steps, showing the reader how a bao is made from beginning to end. The instructional tone helps enhance the quality of the book, as it allows the reader to be part of the learning process and possibly inspire a reader to try making a bao themselves. I for myself definitely want to try making a bao now! The author portrayed anti-bias perspectives in this book by showing tradition and cultural practices in Amy’s family. This book could be considered as a “window” book for many readers, as the book showcased Chinese culture, and a dish associated with the culture. In the end of the book, Amy was able to share her baos with everyone in class, representing unity and demonstrating an appreciation for culture and cultural dishes. The author promotes her heritage in a positive light and encourages others to try and remake baos in their own kitchens. This type of representation is important to demonstrate anti-bias perspectives!
November 30, 2024
This is a book full of joy and determination! I learned about a new food bao, which is a Chinese dish with a fluffy dough on the outside and various types of fillings on the inside. In this book, I first learned that Amy Wu can do a lot of things! However, she had not been able to make the perfect bao. Amy Wu wanted to make a perfect bao just like her father, mother, and grandmother. Amy Wu even made a plan to make the perfect bao and took advice from her family, the experts! She tried to make the perfect bao over and over again, but they just weren't coming out right. Amy Wu recognized that making bao takes skill, and she had an idea, which she told her grandma: to make the two dough pieces smaller to fit her hand size. She tried this idea and followed her parents steps to a “perfect bao,” and she finally did it! Lastly, my favorite part of the story was when she brought the perfect and delicious bao for all her classmates to try at school! The major themes in the book were determination and necessity of work because Amy Wu had a very determined mindset; she knew what she wanted to accomplish, making the perfect bao, and she accomplished it no matter how many times she failed. She kept on trying. The necessity of work was another very evident theme because throughout the book we saw how many times Amy Wu failed before she succeeded; she didn't give up; she worked hard to accomplish her goal. Accomplishing our goals usually doesn’t happen after one try or overnight, but is usually a process. The main genre of this book is contemporary realistic fiction. Through reading this book, I learned about a Chinese dish called Baozi and the importance of family culture and support. This book was a WOW book for me because I thought the illustrations were very exciting and joyful. The story was also inspirational and taught the importance of family culture and hard work and determination. Two of the literary devices the author used in writing this book were repetition and illustrations. These literary devices added to the quality of the writing in this book by demonstating what the “perfect bao” looks like as well as emphasizing Amy Wu’s frustration as the phrase “perfect bao” is constantly repeated and her whole family is repeatedly making the perfect bao. The author portrayed anti-bias perspectives in this book by positively portraying an Asian cultural dish and teaching others unique Asian American culture using characters that were similar to the author's experience when she was growing up.
February 6, 2023
PopSugar 2017 reading challenge #19
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!).
I thought this was a very cute, informative book that young children would likely respond to very well. The illustrations add a lot of lively detail and the fact that there is a kitten sidekick is pretty cute. The only thing I found interesting was that there is one page where Amy brings bao to school – the rest of the book is set at home, so why was this one random school scene depicted here?
This book would be best used in a setting where readers/listeners could then attempt to make the bao recipe at the end of the book – in a perfect world, I would love to see a ‘diverse cooking/reading course’ at a school or public library. However, in a broader sense this book could be used to show diversity by showing Amy and her family – discussing that the family cooks together, how this brings them together, 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!).
I thought this was a very cute, informative book that young children would likely respond to very well. The illustrations add a lot of lively detail and the fact that there is a kitten sidekick is pretty cute. The only thing I found interesting was that there is one page where Amy brings bao to school – the rest of the book is set at home, so why was this one random school scene depicted here?
This book would be best used in a setting where readers/listeners could then attempt to make the bao recipe at the end of the book – in a perfect world, I would love to see a ‘diverse cooking/reading course’ at a school or public library. However, in a broader sense this book could be used to show diversity by showing Amy and her family – discussing that the family cooks together, how this brings them together, etc.
April 23, 2024
There is always something that someone else is good at, but we are not. In this book, the author uses her life story to connect to maybe what other young Asian girls may be experiencing. The main character, Amy is a very talented girl who has many skills, but she struggles with one thing. Making the perfect bao. Something that is integrated in her culture and she is struggling to make it and she compares herself to her parents and grandmother. The theme of accomplishing a mission as well as not giving up is an important message. This book is a contemporary realistic fiction because it is a fiction story, but based off of the author's real life. Through reading this book, I learned that it's important not to give up and also how to make the perfect bao.
The author used a lot of repetition and made the story fun to read for young readers such as "pinch pinch" and "the perfect bao". It enhances the story as it drives in the message of the book. I also think that the book would be antibias because although it has minimal characters, it is inclusive of Chinese culture as well as sharing that culture to all different people.
The author used a lot of repetition and made the story fun to read for young readers such as "pinch pinch" and "the perfect bao". It enhances the story as it drives in the message of the book. I also think that the book would be antibias because although it has minimal characters, it is inclusive of Chinese culture as well as sharing that culture to all different people.
September 29, 2025
I loved this book! The illustrations were outstanding, and the world layout was perfect for any classroom, kindergarten to third grade. I appreciate that the author added the actual bao recipe in the end. I will try to make my perfect bao! The overall theme of the story is that you have to find your own version of perfect. As the little girl kept trying to make 'the perfect bao', she was trying to copy her parents and grandmother's ways. As soon as her grandmother instructed her to start with the 'perfect amount' for her hand, she was able to construct the 'perfect bao'. I would love to use this book in my classroom for the vibrant illustrations, as well as the entertaining way the text is laid out differently from page to page. It makes it easier for young readers to learn or find interest in the words and comprehend the story! A fantastic read; give it a try!
April 28, 2021
Sanaya Talks Books:
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.
Mommy Likes:
There are two books in the series: Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao and Amy Wu and the Patchwork Dragon.
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.
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.
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.
For full review of the book you can chk our blog at www.inbetweenbookmarks.wordpress.com or chk our Instagram page at www.instagram.com/inbetweenbookmarks
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.
Mommy Likes:
There are two books in the series: Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao and Amy Wu and the Patchwork Dragon.
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.
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.
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.
For full review of the book you can chk our blog at www.inbetweenbookmarks.wordpress.com or chk our Instagram page at www.instagram.com/inbetweenbookmarks
March 29, 2021
I think this hit us at the perfect developmental stage. N old enough to want to do everything herself and also to get frustrated when her level of execution doesn't match adults with decades of experience. We got as much from the not-so-perfect bao as from the perfect one.
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