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Bee-Bim Bop! is narrated by a young Korean girl who is excited that her mother is about to prepare a favorite dish. She helps her mother shop for the ingredients and prepare the bee-bim bop (“mix-mix rice”) before the whole family including Papa, the baby, and Grandma gather together to say Grace and enjoy the delicious meal.
The story unfolds in bouncy, bubbly rhythm to the catchy refrain of “Hungry Hungry Hungry/for some BEE-BIM BOP!” (consider yourself warned: these lines will lodge themselves into your brain after a few readings!). The frenzied rush of dinner preparation and the little girl’s eager and gleeful anticipation of a favorite meal are captured perfectly.
A young child will enjoy pointing out and naming the different ingredients and kitchen appliances shown here in nice detail. The artwork is pleasant without being outstanding. The young girl’s gap-toothed smile and sweetly goofy expression are entirely endearing, and the family dog proves to be an amusing sidekick.
The book includes a recipe for preparing bee-bim bop, along with a picture of the author and her niece and nephew making this meal together. An especially nice touch is that the cooking instructions are designed for “you” and a “grown-up” to follow together. This book is perfect for any child who is just learning to help out in the kitchen. Bee-Bim Bop! is also a great book for introducing children to ethnic food and culture in an entirely accessible way.
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Bee-Bim Bop!