Starred Review This simple, well-designed picture book introduces the experience of dining on dim sum . Ingredients and kitchen tools are scattered across the endpapers, setting the scene for the culinary pleasure to come. The title page shows three little Asian girls and their parents in Chinatown about to enter a restaurant with a sign that advertises dim sum . In the double-page spreads that follow, the family is seated at a table, they choose small dishes of food from the carts wheeled to them by servers, and they share a little bit of everything. Tired and full, they end the meal at a table full of empty dishes. On the last spread, an appended note offers translations of the term dim sum , a short history of the tradition, and an explanation of its customs. Lin's paintings are graphically striking. They combine a simplicity of form and design with a delight of patterning that appears in clothing and in backgrounds that are reminiscent of Matisse. Arresting, yet pleasing, combinations of color underscore the dynamic sense of every action portrayed, making even the selection of dishes an important moment, as it can feel to small children. Like the pleasures of dim sum, this is a compact treat.

From sweet pork buns and fried shrimp to turnip cakes and egg tarts, dim sum delicacies are savored by a family in a Chinatown restaurant. Lin's deft, colorful illustrations show Ba-Ba, Ma-Ma, and two little girls each choosing a favorite dish. The simple text is enriched by an endnote and endpapers that provide more information about the tradition and range of dim sum meals.

K-Gr 3-This tasty tradition is explored through simple text and realistic illustrations. A family with three daughters arrives at a restaurant for a meal of "little dishes." Carts are wheeled to each table and the guests select what they would like to eat. They each choose a favorite dish and then share with everyone at the table. When the plates and bowls are empty, the family looks satisfied and a little sleepy. The concluding note explains the cultural history of dim sum as well as the customs surrounding the meal. The endpapers feature an array of delicious ingredients, utensils, and items that are typical of this repast, all labeled in Chinese and English. The illustrations capture every detail from the texture and patterns of the clothing and food to the small jade necklace worn by the waitress. This enticing book can stand alone or supplement a lesson on food or Chinese culture.-Genevieve Ceraldi, New York Public Library Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.