by Linda Sue Park
illustrated by Ho Baek Lee
Clarion Books, September 12, 2005
Language: English
paperback: 978-0547076713
board book:978-0063268029
32 pages, ages 4-8
Bee-bim Bop!
Bee-bim bop (“mix-mix rice”) is a traditional Korean dish. In bouncy rhyming text, a hungry child tells of helping her mother make bee-bim bop: shopping, preparing ingredients, setting the table, and sitting down to enjoy a favorite meal.
The enthusiasm of the narrator is conveyed in the whimsical illustrations, which bring details from the artist’s childhood in Korea to his depiction of a modern Korean-American family.
The book includes Linda Sue’s own bee-bim bop recipe!
Collage Art
Recognition
New York Public Library, 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year
Included in “To build a delightful library for kids, start with these 99 books,” Alyssa Rosenberg, The Washington Post, 8 December 2022
Reviews
“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.”
“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."
