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carolineinthelibrary's review against another edition
4.0
A very cute picture book about a dumpling who learns that he's not ugly, he's just not what he thought he was! I really loved this book!
duke_and_turk's review against another edition
4.0
Finally! An illustrated story of a dumpling that I never knew I needed! When a dumpling is overlooked in a dim sum restaurant, an outgoing cockroach comes to the rescue. Together they explore the varied landscape of the bustling restaurant. The illustrations were so clever and really elevated the story! Flames from a wok spell out sounds, piles of dirty dishes look like shimmering china towers, and hanging red lanterns became the perfect vantage point to take in the view. You'll have to check out this book to see what happens next. But sometimes, all we need is a new perspective.
nomefriegues's review against another edition
4.0
I wanted to LOVE this book. I'd call it a 3.5
The illustrations are lovely, and the little touches are really important--cooking action words mimicking their motions, the "world" of the dim sung restaurant made up of foods and dishes. It's a fun story, possibly good for a story time group. But this story isn't quite whimsical enough to get away with the whimsy it pushes, and it's not quite as close to the real story as it wants to be. It feels like a portion was cut out?
I enjoyed it and it looks lovely and I've read it through several time, so I clearly enjoyed it (and man are those dumplings and buns cute). The cockroach doesn't even freak me out!
The illustrations are lovely, and the little touches are really important--cooking action words mimicking their motions, the "world" of the dim sung restaurant made up of foods and dishes. It's a fun story, possibly good for a story time group. But this story isn't quite whimsical enough to get away with the whimsy it pushes, and it's not quite as close to the real story as it wants to be. It feels like a portion was cut out?
I enjoyed it and it looks lovely and I've read it through several time, so I clearly enjoyed it (and man are those dumplings and buns cute). The cockroach doesn't even freak me out!
dawnoftheread's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not sure what to make of this book. It sure doesn't make dim sum restaurants look very good, with roaches running all over the place.
snazel's review against another edition
4.0
A pretty excellent twist on the Ugly Duckling. In here, and ugly dumpling finds a friend, and then realizes he's not a dumpling, he's really a steamed bun! He's just like all of them! But they don't like his friend, a cockroacch. So he decides that being a friend is better than being just like all of them. Well done, book.
pwbalto's review against another edition
3.0
Sometimes a picture book will surprise you. Like this one - there you are toodling along admiring the anthropomorphic expressions on the potstickers and the har gow, idly wondering who might like to join you at ZhongShan for dim sum Sunday morning, and then a cockroach shows up. And let's just say it's rare that a surprise cockroach is a good cockroach. #bookaday
teenytinylibrary's review against another edition
4.0
One poor little dumpling is not quite right - he's ugly (really all dumplings are ugly) but not the right sort of ugly. No one wants to eat him. BUT! a cockroach comes along to show the dumpling the beauty in the world and he changes everything.
I loved this book. It was cute and a little twist on the traditional Ugly Duckling story. The dumpling was really a steamed bun that didn't know she was a steamed bun, but it didn't matter in the end anyway. I think that this would be good for kids - especially when you talk about growing up to be different and accepted - but they need to be told to find someone who likes their weird self now and just roll with it instead of trying to change.
I loved this book. It was cute and a little twist on the traditional Ugly Duckling story. The dumpling was really a steamed bun that didn't know she was a steamed bun, but it didn't matter in the end anyway. I think that this would be good for kids - especially when you talk about growing up to be different and accepted - but they need to be told to find someone who likes their weird self now and just roll with it instead of trying to change.
antsneversleep's review against another edition
3.0
I do not like anything with roaches, but this story was cute.
persnicketypaul's review against another edition
5.0
Adorable book! The illustrations are gorgeous, the writing is funny, and it's got a great meaning with a wonderful ending. Every dumpling needs a friend!