This is a solid, warm picture book that does exactly what it sets out to do: celebrate cultural differences through food and gardening. Grace Lin's illustrations are cheerful and inviting, and the story feels authentic rather than performative about Chinese-American heritage.

The 4.8 Amazon rating and positive parent reviews confirm it works well for its target age—parents report success with kids as young as three. The pronunciation guide and soup recipe are nice touches that extend the book beyond storytime.

It's not going to blow anyone's mind with originality, and it's definitely showing its 2001 roots in style and pacing. But it's a gentle, effective book about seeing value in unexpected places, and the food angle makes the lesson way more engaging than it could have been. Great for diverse bookshelves and families wanting to talk about cultural appreciation without making it A Big Deal.