Bee-bim Bop!

September 5, 2005
The title refers to a dish of rice, egg strips, vegetables and meat that's a staple of Korean family life—and it's a lot of fun to eat, too, because diners get to mix the parts together themselves right at the table. (The words in Korean mean, loosely, "mix-mix rice.") The title also inspires some bouncy rhymes from Park (A Single Shard
), and loving depictions of the joys of being mom's sous-chef from South Korean artist Lee. First, the necessary supplies are laid in: "Hurry, Mama, hurry/ Gotta shop shop shop!/ Hungry hungry hungry/ for some bee-bim bop!
" A flurry of rice-making, chopping and frying follows. The entire family, including a grandmother in traditional dress, gathers to say grace and dig in: "Rice goes in the middle/ Egg goes right on top / Mix it!
/ Mix like crazy!
/ Time for bee-bim bop!
" Lee's characterizations don't have much texture or depth, but he does a terrific job of framing the kitchen activity from a variety of angles, so that every scene bubbles with fun and anticipation (he also frequently crops Mama at the shoulders, to keep the focus on the eager, helpful narrator). The mood is so unabashedly happy and Park's text is so catchy that any grown-up reading this book aloud should anticipate a demand to make the detailed, kid-friendly recipe for Bee-Bim Bop on the final spread. Ages 4-7.

September 1, 2005
The title refers to a dish of rice, egg strips, vegetables and meat that's a staple of Korean family life - and it's a lot of fun to eat, too, because diners get to mix the parts together themselves right at the table. (The words in Korean mean, loosely, "mix-mix rice.") The title also inspires some bouncy rhymes from Park (A Single Shard ), and loving depictions of the joys of being mom's sous-chef from South Korean artist Lee. First, the necessary supplies are laid in: "Hurry, Mama, hurry/ Gotta shop shop shop!/ Hungry hungry hungry/ for some bee-bim bop! " A flurry of rice-making, chopping and frying follows. The entire family, including a grandmother in traditional dress, gathers to say grace and dig in: "Rice goes in the middle/ Egg goes right on top / Mix it! / Mix like crazy! / Time for bee-bim bop! " Lee's characterizations don't have much texture or depth, but he does a terrific job of framing the kitchen activity from a variety of angles, so that every scene bubbles with fun and anticipation (he also frequently crops Mama at the shoulders, to keep the focus on the eager, helpful narrator). The mood is so unabashedly happy and Park's text is so catchy that any grown-up reading this book aloud should anticipate a demand to make the detailed, kid-friendly recipe for Bee-Bim Bop on the final spread. Ages 4-7.

September 1, 2005
PreS-Gr 2 -In the tradition of Grace Lin's "Dim Sum for Everyone!" (Knopf, 2001) and "The Ugly Vegetables" (Charlesbridge, 1999), Park introduces preschoolers to the culinary culture of Korea. Playful, cartoonlike drawings portray a round-faced girl helping her mother shop and prepare a delicious meal in the kitchen. The illustrations, set against a white background, are very appealing. Each spread presents a detailed and busy kitchen scene enhancing the rhyming text. The name of the dish is delightful, and children will want to chime in on -Hungry hungry hungry/for some BEE-BIM BOP! - and variations on the catchy refrain. The verses contain many of the preparation steps and ingredients and some readers may have difficulty keeping the rhythm, but with a bit of practice, the rhyme works well. A recipe follows the story and in the author's note, Park explains that -bee-bim bop - means -mix-mix rice. - A fine addition to any collection, this book is a terrific way to introduce Korean culture to young children." -Be Astengo, Alachua County Library, Gainesville, FL"

Copyright 2005 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2005
PreS-Gr. 2. Newbery Medal-winning author Park captures the exciting rush of dinnertime preparations in this picture book about a Korean family. A little girl is thrilled about what's for dinner--the Korean dish Bee-bim Bop--and she excitedly helps her mother select groceries and prepare the meal before Papa, the baby, and Grandmother gather for a short prayer and, finally, dinner. Park's brief, bouncy, rhyming text, with the refrain, "Hungry hungry hungry / for some BEE-BIM BOP!" perfectly echoes the frenzied speed of shopping and cooking, as well as the gleeful anticipation of a favorite meal, which most kids will recognize. Lee's watercolors extend the flurry of activity, humor, and delight in uncluttered spreads, many from a child's-eye view. Step-by-step descriptions will intrigue children who love learning about the process of putting a meal together. A recipe for Bee-bim Bop, with instructions for "you" and a "grown-up," closes this cheerful offering, which will partner nicely with the books in the adjacent Read-alikes, "Kids in the Kitchen."(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2005, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2006
An enthusiastic Korean girl helps her mom shop for and prepare dinner in a jaunty, flowing rhyme: "Hurry, family, hurry / Gotta hop hop hop! / Dinner's on the table / and it's BEE-BIM BOP!" Expressive, child's-eye watercolors get in on all the activity in the kitchen in this celebration of a well-loved cultural dish. A recipe is included.

(Copyright 2006 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)