If you love children’s books about the cultural importance of food, Laura G. Lee’s “Soy Sauce!” will not disappoint. This sweet story takes the reader on a quick journey to learn how soy sauce is made in different parts of the world

The story discusses how the fermentation process begins and how patience is important to get a truly delicious soy sauce. A visual glossary at the end provides additional background information (I didn’t know that Indonesian soy sauce uses star anise as a flavoring!).

The illustrations are cheerful and gently emphasize the importance of family and culture. The text is spare, but discusses complex topics such as umami and fermentation. If you like food stories of all types, be sure to check out “Soy Sauce!”

This book is great for readers of all ages who enjoy reading about food and food culture.

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley and Algonquin Young Readers, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book is so beautiful, I could spend a lot of time looking at the pictures. The book mentions how soy sauce is made which is really fun to read. Soy sauce is something that we all consume at some point in our lives. It's really great to read the story behind soy sauce and how many people enjoy the condiment. It does mention how many countries use soy sauce for their family recipes but maybe use it differently. I will definitely be purchasing this book for the library.

In this rhyming picture book, young readers learn a lot about that savory condiment, soy sauce. I did, too, since I had no idea that you could make it at home! There are many different recipes, but the essential steps include boiling soy beans, adding ingredients to help the mixture ferment, and letting the mixture age. There's even a tradition in some cultures of brewing soy sauce when children are born to give as a present for their weddings! There are regional differences in soy sauce ingredients and tastes; Japanese soy sauce often includes toasted wheat, while the Korean version has Chiles and fruits called jujubes. Indonesian soy sauce is thicker and flavored with star anise; I'll have to search for that when I'm at the international grocery store some day! Of course, there are also exuberant tableus of children cooking with soy sauce and enjoying the resultant dishes with relish.

The artwork has lots of detail, and I was most impressed with how some of the exclamatory words on the pages looked like they were painted in soy sauce! I'm imagining there was some kind of computer software involved, but it added a little bit of umami to the page design! There are some pages where the words are placed on top of the pictures in a way that makes them hard to read, but perhaps this will be shifted a bit in the final copy.

The one thought that kept occurring to me as I read this was that if my mother had been Asian, she would definitely have made her own soy sauce. I had my own apartment before I realized that in order to have pickle relish, you didn't have to grow cucumbers, pickle them, and then process them in the aluminum sausage grinder that clamped onto the counter! It's great to see books that teach the history of food and the process of making it. Soy Sauce! is a great addition to a buffet of picture books that includes Wu's Tofu Takes Time, Zhuang's Rainbow Shopping, Lam's Dim Sum, Here We Come, and the very complete Chinese Menu: The History, Myths, and Legends Behind Your Favorite Foods by Grace Lin.

I thought that this was a really simple book at the start but it grew and was really well done.

As an adult I have had soy sauce many times on and in food (and I love it!) but I didn't realise that it was made differently in the countries mentioned in the book and I found that fascinating.

The book was well illustrated and the book had some good little facts too at the end. There were a couple of pages where the text was over the images and that didn't make it very easy to read but the rest of the book was spot on and you learnt as you read!

It is 4 stars from me, highly recommended!

A sweet and simple picture book about soy sauce. This book briefly covers how soy sauce is made and how it differs amongst countries in Asia. The author’s notes includes more info about the history of soy sauce, how it’s made/used around the world, and a glossary of words used throughout the book. The illustrations are vibrant and there’s a great balance of text and illustrations on each page. Will be recommending for purchase at my library!

What a great look at an ingredient that truly has a multicultural range! As always, food ties us together and im here for those books!!

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced review copy

A wonderful addition to a library picture book collection, Soy Sauce! is sure to attract every young patron with its bright and welcoming illustrations. While the rhyme scheme stumbles in a few places, meaning it may not be ideal for a group story time, the overall flow of the text is engaging and as a lap read it is sure to become a favorite. Newly independent readers will enjoy the illustrated glossary, while Caregivers will appreciate the informational section at the end. Perfect for a program devoted to flavors and foods, Soy Sauce! would circulate well in an elementary school setting as well as in a public library picture book collection. Thank you to NetGalley for access to this delightful book.

Soy sauce is a cute book telling about how soy sauce is made. Great for children interested in food.

I thought the idea was cute and the art was great.

It was very educational but a little advanced for a toddler, I would suggest 5+.
I think it could have been brought down a reading grade a bit and told more of a story.

Overall, I think was cute.

3.5

SOY SAUCE! is a delightful and educational journey into the world of one of the most beloved condiments! This picture book does a fantastic job of breaking down the ingredients and the rich history behind soy sauce in a way that is both engaging and accessible for young readers. The illustrations are vibrant and fun, perfectly complementing the informative text. It's a delicious blend of storytelling and learning, making it an excellent addition to any child’s library. Whether you're a foodie family or just curious about what makes soy sauce so special, this book is sure to be a hit!

🌭How can you describe the flavour of your childhood? 😋
For some, it's eating cold watermelons on the beach or fresh pancakes every Sunday morning, Friday night dinners and round chocolate birthday cakes. For others it's the umami flavour of a savoury sauce passed down through generations and oral traditions: the Soy sauce! 🍜😋🤤

"Soy Sauce!" by Laura G. Lee @lauragleestudio is not only a tale of how soy sauce is made, which by itself is super interesting to learn, but also a walk down memory lane to the flavours of an Asian household that dates back thousands of years. We learn that each Asian culture whether Korean, Chinese or Japanese have different "secret" ingredients that are incorporated into their traditional recipe to make it unique and special to the country. At the end of the book, there's a helpful glossary which gives more information about the ingredients used to make soy sauce around Asia. 🥘👩‍🍳

My son loved the illustrations of the food, he would tell me he wanted to "eat it" over and over. Such a cute and delicious-looking book. It could be a great way to get kids curious about new foods and flavours. 👨‍🍳💋

Book 131 of 300 ~ 2024

🌟🌟🌟🌟

What an insightful, culturally rich book that showcases how different cultures/races make their delicious soya sauce, a much used item in many scrumptious dishes.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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‘Soy Sauce’ by Laura Lee is a delightful children's book that takes readers on a culinary adventure focused on the process of making soy sauce. With charming characters, beautiful illustrations, and an engaging narrative, this book offers a unique and educational experience for young readers.

Plot: ★★★★☆
The plot of ‘Soy Sauce’ is very sweet, revolving around the process of making soy sauce for meals. The story is simple yet heartwarming, providing an enjoyable glimpse into the cultural significance and preparation of this essential condiment.

Character: ★★★☆☆
The characters in the book are cute and endearing. While there may not be deep character development, their charm and the roles they play in the story are enough to keep young readers interested and engaged.

Illustrations: ★★★★☆
The illustrations are stunning, perfectly complementing the soy sauce theme. The artwork is vibrant and detailed, helping to bring the story to life and visually engage young readers.

Engagement: ★★★★☆
‘Soy Sauce’ is quite an engaging read, especially for children interested in cooking and learning about different foods. The combination of an intriguing process and beautiful illustrations keeps readers hooked from start to finish.

Readability: ★★★★★
The readability of this book is excellent. The text is clear, well-structured, and easy for young readers to follow. The simple language and engaging narrative make it a great choice for read-aloud sessions as well.

Enjoyment: ★★★★☆
‘Soy Sauce’ is very enjoyable for young children. The unique focus on soy sauce making, combined with charming characters and beautiful illustrations, ensures that it will be a hit with its target audience.

‘Soy Sauce’ by Laura Lee is a wonderful children's book that offers a sweet plot, adorable characters, and stunning illustrations. Its engaging narrative and excellent readability make it an enjoyable read for young children, particularly those with an interest in cooking and learning about different foods. This book is a delightful addition to any child's library.

Cute and educational book! This book is great for all kids, but it will be especially valuable to kids with Asian heritage. The story flowed nicely and made sure that the reader knew everything there was to know about making soy sauce. I even learned some things! There was a little rhyming aspect that worked really well for the overall book. The drawings were so fun and detailed, and really brought the learning experience full-circle. Lastly, the way the creators of this book played with font size, boldness, and placement was so, so clever and helped to accentuate different things in the writing.
Bravo!

When I was very young, my allergies started bothering me. My mom sent me to an allergist. I did one of those fun prick tests on my back. Along with nearly every plant in Texas, my allergist told me I was allergic to soy. "Yeah, right," I laughed, "I'm Asian." It didn't bother me at the time. And so I continued eating it.

Fast forward to a few years ago. My favorite Meatless Monday meal was white jasmine rice, boiled tofu, and water spinach dipped in fish sauce. It's a Viet thing. It sounds boring as hell, but I promise it's delicious.

Anyway, something was agitating my stomach. I puzzled over it before remembering my fated meeting with my allergist that many years ago. "No way," I thought, "Not me." Yes, way, in fact, it was me.

As such, I'm clearly a masochist and enjoy reading about this beautiful condiment that I can no longer consume. Maggi is good, but it doesn't compare. Don't you dare try to offer me coco aminos. And to the people that offer me tamari even after I tell you about my allergy, it's soy I'm allergic to, not gluten. Honestly.

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Algonquin Young Readers

Soy Sauce is a engaging book that tells the story of culture and history. Laura G. Lee brings the process of creating soy sauce to life. She brings in how as soy sauce is created. Lee also writes about how soy sauce is spread throughout the world and how each community creates their own unique sauce. If your looking for a book about community, cultural diffusion, or just wanting to learn about soy sauce, this is the book for you!