Spring 2024

Mami King

How Ma Mon Luk Found Love, Riches, and the Perfect Bowl of Soup

  • Interest Level: Grade 2 - Grade 5
  • Reading Level: Grade 3

Rejected by the parents of the girl he loves for being poor, Ma Mon Luk strikes out from China and boards a steamship headed for the Philippines in 1918.

He vows to make a fortune and return for his beloved. Ma creates a chicken noddle soup he calls mami—"ma" for his name and “mi” for noodles—and peddles it as a street vendor. He eventually earns enough to open his own restaurant and wins the approval of the parents of his true love. Joyful illustrations from award-winning illustrator Kristin Sorra and heartwarming text from debut picture book author Jacqueline Chio-Lauri blend together to create a delicious story about creativity, perseverance, and the perfect bowl of soup. Satisfy your hunger with this Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection!

“A savory success story.”—Booklist

“An absolutely wonderful and inspiring story, beautifully illustrated. So much depth, so many layers! But at its core, this is fundamentally a story about the enduring power of love and how that helped Ma Mon Luk to achieve the impossible…A valuable addition to any bookshelf.”—Emma Pearl, author of Mending the Moon and Saving the Sun.

Format Your Price Add
978-1-7284-9235-3
$14.99
979-8-7656-1914-8
$24.99
979-8-7656-4911-4
$34.99
979-8-7656-4913-8
$6.99
Available at all major wholesalers and distributors. Save 25% off list price on hardcovers and ebooks when you buy direct! Digital purchases will be accessed on Lerner Digital Bookshelf. An account will be created for you after purchase.
Interest Level Grade 2 - Grade 5
Reading Level Grade 3
Genre Picture Books, Social Studies
Category 5 Kinds of Nonfiction, 5KN: Narrative Nonfiction, Biography, Diverse Books: Immigration & Refugees, Diverse Books: #OwnVoices, Diverse Books: Race & Ethnicity, Diverse Books: Social Class, Diverse Books: Social Justice, Diversity, SEL: C Social Awareness, SEL: D Relationship Skills, SEL: E Responsible Decision-Making, Social Emotional Learning
Copyright 2024
Publisher Lerner Publishing Group
Imprint Millbrook Press ™
Language English
Number of Pages 32
Publication Date 2024-04-02
Text Type Narrative Nonfiction
BISACS JNF007050, JNF014000, JNF038020
Dewey 647.95092 [B]
Dimensions 9.25 x 11
Guided Reading Level Q
Features Author/Illustrator biography, Author/Illustrator note, Bibliography/further reading, Original artwork, Reviewed, Teaching Guides, and eSource

Author: Jacqueline Chio-Lauri

Jacqueline Chio Lauri is a writer, anthologist, and editor based in Manchester, England. Her work includes The New Filipino Kitchen: Stories and Recipes from around the Globe, We Cook Filipino: Heart-Healthy Recipes and Inspiring Stories from 36 Filipino Food Personalities and Award-Winning Chefs, and articles on global media sites, such as Huffington Post and Epicurious. Born and raised in the Philippines, Jacqueline holds a bachelor’s degree in Hotel and Restaurant Administration from the University of the Philippines and earned multiple MBA-level Executive Certificates in Marketing & Business Strategies from Cornell University.

Illustrator: Kristin Sorra

Kristin Sorra is an award-winning children’s book illustrator. Her parents immigrated from the Philippines to Baltimore, MD, where she was born. She earned her degree in Illustration from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY, graduating with highest honors, after which she co-owned a digital coloring house that catered to comic book publishers. She illustrated for magazines, online games, hang tags, posters, stationery, textiles, and even designed Halloween costumes. Kristin lives in New York’s Hudson Valley, with her family.

Lerner eSource™ offers free digital teaching and learning resources, including Common Core State Standards (CCSS) teaching guides. These guides, created by classroom teachers, offer short lessons and writing exercises that give students specific instruction and practice using Common Core skills and strategies. Lerner eSource also provides additional resources including online activities, downloadable/printable graphic organizers, and additional educational materials that would also support Common Core instruction. Download, share, pin, print, and save as many of these free resources as you like!

Mami King

Rejected by the parents of the girl he loves for being poor, Ma Mon Luk strikes out from China and boards a steamship headed for the Philippines in 1918. He vows to make a fortune and return for his beloved. Ma creates a chicken noddle soup he calls… View available downloads →

LIBRARIAN PREP POST: BIOGRAPHIES

In an everchanging world, the often-difficult concept of understanding different perspectives is more important than ever. The well-rounded selection of biographies depicted in this blog post provides insight and offers simplicity while also answering difficult questions for younger… View →

Mami King: An Interview with Illustrator Kristin Sorra

Ma Mon Luk left China and everything he knew behind to seek his fortune in the Philippines. Desperate to earn a living—and the approval of the parents of the woman he loved—he created a chicken noddle soup he called mami—”ma” for his name and “mi” for noodles. Peddling it as a street… View →

HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY: APRIL NEW RELEASES IN PICTURE BOOKS, GRAPHIC NOVELS, NONFICTION, AND MORE!

April is the perfect time for new beginnings…and new books! Check out our new releases to discover entertainment for the rainy spring days. New in Picture Books Haiku, Ew!: Celebrating the Disgusting Side of Nature by Lynn Brunelle and illustrated by Julia Patton Interest Level: Grade 2… View →

Reviews

School Library Journal

“A captivating story of love, determination, and the power of following one’s passion . . . this book exemplifies the human spirit and is perfect for readers from first grade up.”—School Library Journal

Children's Literature Comprehensive Database (CLCD)

“Sorra’s digitally rendered illustrations have a cinematic feel, full of details and expression. . . This is an excellent addition to picture book biography collections. Reviewer Rating: 4”—Children’s Literature

Kirkus Reviews

“As heartwarming and satisfying as a bowl of noodle soup.”—Kirkus Reviews

Ambeth R. Ocampo

“History at its core must tell a good story and using the senses is one way to make the narrative and imagination move forward. Fortunately, there are stories of our history that are told in delicious ways. Mami King is one of them.”—Ambeth R. Ocampo, Horacio de la Costa Professor in History & the Humanities, Ateneo de Manila University

Publishers Weekly

“A resourceful young man employs his cooking skills to make his fortune and assist others in this lively biography of entrepreneur Ma Mon Luk.”—Publishers Weekly

Emma Pearl

“An absolutely wonderful and inspiring story, beautifully illustrated. So much depth, so many layers! But at its core, this is fundamentally a story about the enduring power of love and how that helped Ma Mon Luk to achieve the impossible…A valuable addition to any bookshelf.”—Emma Pearl, author of Mending the Moon and Saving the Sun.

Booklist

“A savory success story.”—Booklist