Meaningful graphic novel written and illustrated by Shaina Lu for middle grade readers.
The story is interesting and timely as it deals with friendship, very current social problems, and presents interesting food ideas while being Asian bilingual. Very enjoyable!
I requested and received a free temporary EARC on Adobe Digital Editions from HarperCollins Children's Books | Quill Tree Books via NetGalley. Thank you

5 Stars. This story was adorable and oh so heartwarming. Momo has lived her whole life in Town 99, she knows all of the ins and outs and most importantly where to get the best eats–Noodles & Bao. May I just say that Gua Bao sounds amazing! Noodles & Bao lost their storefront due to their landlord selling the building and had to transition to a food cart. A swanky new restaurant called Fance Cafe quickly replaces the former location of Noodles & Bao. To take it a step further, Jujube, the new owner of Fance Cafe even forces Noodle & Bao to relocate their food truck. Noodles & Bao tell a heartwarming story of a community trying to hang on to its roots and support one another. I loved the art and the seemingly random mix of animals and humans. Noodle is not a human and neither are Momo’s parents, but there were humans too. It was a quirky style choice that just added to the story’s overall charm. I can see where the references to Animal Crossing come from now. I liked the inclusion of pronouns when introducing the main characters and the inclusion of Chinese in the speech bubbles as well. All in all, this book addresses some pretty challenging topics, from immigration, community, and gentrification, all while tantalizing readers with mouth watering food and charming characters. Thank you HarperCollins Children's Books, Quill Tree Books, Shaina Lu, and NetGalley for providing an eARC for review!

This book was so cute! My son and I loved the graphics and the pacing was spot on. I also appreciated that it sparked a conversation about friendship, standing up for what you believe in and why gentrification can happen.

I really liked this! The pacing was a bit odd at times and a lot of the conflict was solved in the end off-camera which I didn't know how to feel about. The art was super cute and I loved the mixture of human & animal characters :) It also made me very hungry to read this, and the bilingual inclusion was really cool!

This book was definitely a cute one. From the animations to the sense of community made it very enjoyable for me. They touch on topics of gentrification and changes in the communities that the native people do not condone and want. If it’s one thing this comic book taught me, it is that it’s better for everyone to stick together and speak out, especially when it’s something that affects everyone.

What would you do to save your family's small business from a bigger, commercialized business taking over? One little food cart is taking a stand against the white-washing of their Chinatown neighborhood. Cafe France moves in and Noodle and Bao are forced to sell their food from a cart out front of their former restaurant. Bao's best friend Momo doesn't think this is very fair and stages a series of protests (my favorite character the piggy bouncer makes appearances during these protests). When push comes to shove, only one shop will survive. Momo challenges the new comers to cook off. Bao is super nervous, so she helps Bao make some new infusions of their most classic recipe. Will they successfully be able to stay in business? Can Momo's family make enough to pay rent and stay in the neighborhood.?

What I loved most: the new infused recipes, the art style, the scathing social commentary, the big, bold all that Momo is contrasted with the quietness of Bao.

I really enjoyed this book. Everything about it screams cute: the art, the characters, the ending. I loved the part at the end of the book where we get some more serious facts on the subjects that inspired this story. It was exactly what I was needing to read right now.
I would recommend picking this one up if you are looking for an easy but impactful read.

Thank you for the advanced copy of Noodle & Bao! This was a very cute middle grade graphic novel. Also a very quick and easy read! The artwork was lovely and enjoyable. The story of the town and culture and people was written beautifully. I liked how they came together to save what they love. Another favorite part was when everyone said their hopes and dreams of the future and that the main character was surprised by some of them, which reminds us that we may not fully know everyone around us and should never make assumptions. We also should support those we love and care about when they have dreams they want to achieve. Again, this was a great middle grade graphic novel. Thank you again for the advanced copy!

Heartwarming, moving, and an absolute delight to read. I think every school library should carry this book. It's educational but in the format of a delightful bite sized graphic novel that is sure to capture the hearts of many.

Noodle and Bao is so cute. So cute!! It is an excellent way to introduce kids to the concept of gentrification. It makes it so easy to understand it's told through a sweet and delightful story that will make the reader interested to learn more. Loved it!!

Cute little small town people trying to save their little town.
Adding in tasty food made it even better!

Thank you HarperCollins Children's Books, Quill Tree Books, and NetGalley for the advanced electronic review copy of this book. This is a great story about empowerment and coming together as a community to solve a problem. A guide on gentrification is provided at the end of the book. Interesting art style and a mix of human and animal characters would appeal to the intended audience (children). Overall, a quick read with a wonky pacing and a strong message about resilience, friendship, and empowerment.

Noodle & Bao is a perfect book for middle grade students (or older folks!) looking to understand gentrification, immigration, and how food and culture can connection and strengthen communities. The characters were wonderfully diverse (many languages, cultures, family types, genders, and ages are included in this wonderful line-up), and Shaina Lu's more in-depth exploration of the main themes of the story in the back of the book is a wonderful guide for adults to talk about hard subjects like immigration and gentrification. This book is a wonderful starting point for adults who want to introduce these ideas to their children or teens. The art style is gorgeous and the colors are stunning. I loved the illustrations and explanations of the food as well. I will absolutely be recommending this to our library kiddos of all ages!

Yes! Yes! Yes! This kids graphic novel is completely wonderful! I am always drawn to amazing art and the storyline is just a fabulous! You may just get a little hungry while reading this graphic novel!

Noodle & Bao is such a sweet story about the power of community, resistance, and identity. It was really moving to see all the different characters, different ages and backgrounds, coming together to fight for their community. I think this is a great way for younger audiences to learn more about serious issues like displacement and gentrification.

I especially loved how fleshed out the characters were (Noodle, Bao, and Momo!) and how much growth they went through even in the span of just 200 pages! And the growth wasn’t limited to just the younger characters, but the older ones too. It was really beautiful to see the preservation of tradition but also the way tradition can grow and adapt into something new. The idea that home can be both in the past but also something new that grows with you is so wonderful. I was genuinely brought to tears at some parts. What a special little book.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollin’s Childrens for an advanced copy of this. But especially thank you to Shaina Lu for writing such a beautiful story. While this is perfect for elementary/middle grade readers, I think this is a read that all of us can read and learn from!

A heart-warming tale about a community fighting their way through the gentrification of their town while also considering what it means for their community to progress without sacrificing tradition or their rightful place.

With the whimsy and creativity of Animal Crossing, Noodle & Bao tells the story of Momo’s mission to save her favorite restaurant, which turns into an effort to save her neighborhood. Life in Town 99 is changing, with increasing rent and neighborhood staples being replaced by fancy new stores and restaurants. Momo knows she must fight to save her beloved community. Along the way, she finds herself in sticky situations, like undercover investigations and cooking competitions, and learns a little something about community organizing.
This book is an entertaining, imaginative introduction to gentrification and community organizing. Although the aesthetic could appeal to students as young as elementary age, the issues that this book tackles are definitely a better fit for middle grade readers. I can imagine middle schoolers reading this just for fun or integrated into a unit on social justice.

I read an e-galley of Noodle & Bao and absolutely loved it! The discussion around gentrification is integrated in the story in a way that is perfectly palatable for young audiences. The Animal Crossing comp is spot on because the illustrations show a community of people and talking animals. This is going on my “Christmas presents for cousins” list because I think it’d make the perfect gift. I recommend this for upper elementary and middle school. This would be great for reluctant readers.

Noodle and Bao is a sweet, heartwarming graphic novel about community, cultural traditions, friendship, and standing up for what you believe in. The characters of Noodle, Bao, and Momo are so well developed and all show growth throughout the book, even the grown-ups! I also love that each character is introduced with their respective pronouns and there is so much diversity throughout the book. Many of the speech bubbles are written bilingually, representing when a character is speaking in another language.

Through the lens of Bao and Momo young readers will learn about gentrification and the effect it can have on diverse communities. The text also explores a theme of cultural traditions and how different generations might view and change these traditions.

Overall, this is a perfect book for late elementary and early grade readers. Thanks to NetGalley and HaperCollins Children's Books for the eARC in exchange for a review.

Noodle & Bao is a sweet tale of community advocacy, confidence-building, and a warm meal. The art is absolutely adorable, with expressive features and a pop of color. I enjoyed the layout and how the novel uses text (bilingual and pictorial). The characters were surprisingly well-developed, and I loved the animal designs. The characters spanned multiple generations, and the older characters grew and changed alongside the young protagonists. The historical note about Parcel C was informative, accessible, and did a lot to frame the story. Overall, Noodle & Bao is a sweet, comforting read that has such a sense of nostalgia. I enjoyed my time with this book and will definitely revisit it (with Chinese takeout).