Niki Nakayama: A Chef's Tale in 13 Bites by Florence, Debbi Michiko

Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award Nominee!

Niki Nakayama: A Chef's Tale in 13 Bites is a picture book biography that tells the story of the powerhouse female Japanese-American chef and her rise to fame

As a child and adult, Niki faced many naysayers in her pursuit of haute cuisine. Using the structure of a traditional kaiseki meal, the authors Debbi Michiko Florence and Jamie Michalak playfully detail Niki's hunger for success in thirteen "bites" -- from wonton wrappers she used to make pizza as a kid to yuzu-tomatillo sauce in her own upscale Los Angeles Michelin-starred restaurant, n/naka.

To anyone who tells her a woman can't be a master chef, Niki lets her food do the talking. And oh, does it talk. Niki was featured on the first season of Netflix's culinary documentary series Chef's Table. And Chrissy Teigen proclaimed that Niki's restaurant was one of her absolute favorites. She's currently a featured teacher on MasterClass.

A smart, strong woman with starpower, Niki is only just getting started -- like the young readers who will devour this book, featuring illustrations by Yuko Jones!

Author: Debbi Michiko Florence, Jamie Michalak
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (Byr)
Published: 09/14/2021
Pages: 40
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.97lbs
Size: 9.01h x 11.25w x 0.44d
ISBN: 9780374313876
Audience: Ages 4-8

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 3.4
Point Value: 0.5
Interest Level: Lower Grade
Quiz #/Name: 513565 / Niki Nakayama: A Chef's Tale in 13 Bites


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 05/31/2021
Kirkus Reviews 08/01/2021
School Library Journal 09/01/2021 pg. 112
Booklist 10/01/2021 pg. 40
Horn Book Magazine 11/01/2021 pg. 133
Hornbook Guide to Children 07/01/2021 - Superior,Well Above Average

About the Author

Jamie Michalak loves how food tells a story and brings people together to create more. She is the author of more than forty children's books, including the highly praised Joe and Sparky early reader series, Frank and Bean, Dakota Crumb: Tiny Treasure Hunter, and more. Jamie lives in Rhode Island.

Debbi Michiko Florence is a third generation Japanese American, and the author of the Jasmine Toguchi series and Keep It Together, Keiko Carter (Scholastic). Debbi lives in Connecticut.

Yuko Jones is an illustrator who believes in the power of imagination. She has degrees in English, Psychology, and Human Development, as well as a career in early childhood developmental research. Yuko lives in western New York.